LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
Shelf .rB&.„. 



|l UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



Homespun Verses, 



BY 



Frederick H. Pilch 



D«:G 5 1882 H 



NEWARK, N. J. ! 
MATTHIAS PLUM, BOOK AND JOB PRINTER, 



TS 



-"p ^ 



Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1882. by 

FREDERICK II. PILCH, 
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 



CONTENTS. 



Dedication 5 

A Sound Reason 6 

Autumn 9 ) 

A Rhyme for Thanksgiving. 10 

Winter 13 

Nightfall in December 14 

The Snowy Gloaming 15 

The Early Snow Storm 18 

A Winter Serenade 19 

Santa. Claus's Ride 20 

A Windy Winter Night 24 

The Snowstorm in the Grove 26 ( 

Lines for the Burns' Supper of 1876 28 

Will You be My Valentine 30 

Mary's Valentine 32 

And so was I , *. 34 

j Spring 36 

Address to a Blade of Grass 38 

The Crocus Spell 41 

After the Blossom Storm 43 s 

The Maiden's Argosy 44 

To Orange Mountain 45 s 



CONTENTS. 



) The Villa Site 46 

A Girl's Reyerie 47 

Our Little Star 48 

} For Decoration Day 50 

) Lines for Decoration Day 55 

( Summer 57 

Margaret 59 

A Moonlight Picture 62 

Afloat on Newark Bay 64 

The Mid-day Dream 66 

Katy Moore 7:5 

Kitty's Walk 75 

The Matd op Madison 77 

The Lassie's Ramble ;u 

The Rustling Cohn 81 

The Lost Star 

A Serenade s5 

Some One 80 

Daybreak on the Seashore 90 

The Fisiiep's Return !»:; 

The Mountaineer's Home by Moonlight 05 

corabelle !»7 

The Gleaming Genesee 09 

A Lament 101 

September Sweets 102 

Waiting for Willie 104 

A Tribute to Adolphus P. Young 1<>? 

Kitty King 109 

SWEETHEART FAREWELL Ill 

Soldier's Song—" The Volunteer" 113 

The Jersey Blues Ilfl 

Battle Hymn 117 

) 

\ 



CONTENTS. 



The Veteran's Reunion >. . 118 

Anniversary of the Battle of Trenton ^ 120 

A Rhyme for the Re-union of the 2d Regiment, 

N. J. Vols 122 

Veteran's Song 126 

Just Twenty Years Ago 128 

Centennial Lines 130 

Lines on the Dedication of the Kearney Statue, 131 

A Revolutionary Tale 134 

The Hussar's Exploit 137 

Van Mouler's Hallow E'en 140 

A Legend of Second River 144 

Cologne Cathedral 1 46 

The Legend of our Lady of Roc Amadour 153 

The Legend of the Goodwin Sands 155 

The Mouse in the Castle of Normandy 157 

Old Song '. 159 

All is Vanity 160 

Immortality and Love 163 

An Old Man's Reverie 164 

Be "Not Weary 166 

Mankind was made to Sing and Smile 167 

The Dignity of Labor 169 

Reflection 171 

Alas! Alas! 172 

In all time of our Tribulation 174 

how they sarved the far down in ould galway, 176 

Tom Duffy's Match 180 

De Sperience ob de Reb'rend Quawko Strong, 184 

De Defalcation of Joshuway Bibb 187 

Parting Sonc 190 

Good Night 192 



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HOMESPUN VERSES. 



©edidktioit. 



\A7here faithful friends are many, 

* ^ 'Tis hard to give a preference, 
Yet of them all, not any 
But will admit, with deference, 
The justice of this reference. 

To the first woman who ever loved me 
And the first woman whom I ever loved, 

My Mother, 
This book is lovingly dedicated. 

Frederick H. Pilch 
Newark, N. J., September, 1882. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



$ $our|d Sfea^oi). 



^j-4 ome I hied me, worn and weary, 
At the brief day's early close, 
All the sky looked dark and dreary 

As the frosty breeze arose. 
Leafless trees, gaunt, tall and stately. 

Faded in the gloom, 
Open fields, perfumed but lately 

With the clover bloom; 
Cold and white, lay, deeply hidden 

Under snow, 
Grass and Mowers alike forbidden 

Not our homestead, bright and cosy. 

Nor its inmates fond and true. 
Could impart a tincture rosy 

To my doleful fancies blue; 
I had been inclined to rhyming, 

Off and on, for years, 
In ecstatic moments climbing 

To celestial spheres. 
Soaring in imagination 

Free and far. 
Seeing God in all creation, 

Or a star. 



4 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



With a family to cherish — 

Children dear to start in life — 
Poetry should straightway perish, 

As a hindrance in the strife ; — 
Of the coin the world disburses 

Poets get small share, j 

Only mighty minds make verses 

G-lorious and rare, — 
So that day I had concluded, — 

From that time, — 
Never more to be deluded 

Into rhyme. 

: 

When our evening meal was ended, 
And the night was somewhat spent, 

Forth my tired footsteps tended 
On some household errand bent; 

Just as I stood in our portal, 
Scarce the threshold past, 

Then the North Wind — Fierce Immortal, 
With most sturdy blast, — 

On the way a maple felling- 
Like a flail, 

Rushed along, a chilling, swelling, 
Wintry gale. 

With a rhythmic tone it sounded 

Through the swaying forest trees, 
And the evergreens resounded 

With the music of the breeze, 
In the West the clouds were rifted, 

Showing azure sky 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



m 



As their opaque curtain lifted 

Where the mountains lie, 
All along the ridge was gleaming 

Starry bright, 
While the hither vale lay dreaming 

Out of sight. 

Then the crescent moon emerging 

From behind her sombre vail 
Sent a stream of light diverging 

O'er the icy, glist'ning dale; 
'Twas a picture as entrancing — 

In pure colors drest — 
As the rippling moonlight glancing 

O'er the ocean's crest; — 
And the woods, with tempests ringing, 

Seemed to be, 
Like the surf forever singing 

By the sea. 

Ah! That view my course decided, 

I would never give up rhyme; 
All our work in life's decided 

By the rigid gauge of time ; 
Yet the planets all together 

Run a rhythmic race, 
With a sunbeam for a tether 

Holding caeh in place; 
Let prosaic folk remember 

Every one, 
That their world hangs from an ember 

Called the sun. 



4*' 



HOMESPUN YERSES. 



Sutun\i|. 



SEPTEMBEB. 

M^he Autumn is the gayest time 

*~ Of all the joyous year, 
When fruit and grain are in their prime, 
And lovely moonlight seems sublime, 
When balmy days are clear 
And pleasant winds appear. 



OCTOBEB. 

The Autumn is the finest far 
Of all the seasons four, 
When trees and thickets tinted are, 
And sunset's glory gleams afar, 
Along the wooded shore 
And leafy valleys o'er. 



NOVEMBEB. 

Delicious is the Autumn air, 

From Summer's heat to snow, 
Mountains and maidens are more fair 
When falling leaves leave forests bare. 
And frosty breezes blow, 
And wild birds southward go. 



10 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



® ffoynie fof ¥t\knk£giviitg. 



'T^he frequent falling of a lonely leaf, — 
-*- The chilly stillness of the fading day, — 
The banded blackbirds following their chief 

In countless flocks to Southern scenes away, — 
The brown nuts dropping to their leafy bed 

'Neath vivid quilts by fallen foliage made, — 
The dreary marsh with flags and flowers dead, — 
The mantling mist that marks the wat'ry 
glade, — 
The brilliant beauty of the mottled wood 
That, blushing, owns the Frost King's stripping 
rule, — 
The ice rimmed margin of the mimic flood 

Where meeting runlets form a reedy pool, — 
The brimful storehouse of the careful bees, — 

The biting coldness of the sunset blast, — 
All these the farmer's urchin feels and sees. 
And shouts— "Thank Goodness! Winter's 
coming fast." 



The thankful farmer folds his arms and scans 
The stubbled surface of his well-gleaned farm. 

Prosperity has loved his labored plans, 
And bounteous Plenty waited on his arm ; 

His harvest home, e'en from the farthest fields, — 
A foreign flush his sunburnt face beguiles, 

Proud of the power that willing labor wields 



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HOMESPUN VERSES. 11 



He turns him to his bursting barn and smiles, * 
The grisly thicket of his bristling beard 

Moves like the matted grass by ploughshare 
rent, 
With growing glee he saj^s : ' The time's appeared 

At last, when I can almost be content, — 
Secure from frost and storm, from drouth and 
tide, 

Of every crop I've housed a wondrous store, 
My stock has thriven, the fowls have multiplied. 

Thank Providence! The season's safely o'er." 



The happy housewife briskly flits about 

Like sunshine on a changeful Summer day, 
And as she sets the laden table out 

She hums the burden of a homely lay, 
And presently her murmur blooms in chords 

That cling and cluster 'round that dear word, 
"Home." 
The feast prepared, she straightway speaks in 
words 

Of sweet authority, for all to " come": 
AVith tender pride she sees them hasten in, 

Till all her blooming household heed the sound, 
And ere the grandsira's grateful thanks begin 

She glances buoyantly the board around, — 
''Where will you find a happier home? " says she, 

"And where, more hearty, comfortable cheer? 
The present holds the highest joy for me. 

Thank Heaven! all our flock's assembled here." 



12 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



The old man holds his grandchild on his knee, 

Bathed in the beauty of the setting sun, — 
Just budding into lovely youth is she, 

For him eternal youth's almost begun, 
As gracefully he bows his gracious head 

A solemn hush pervades the merry crowd, 
He asks God's blessing on their daily bread 

And on the circling group around him bowed, 
And then he says — " Thank God above! 

For all the mercies of the pleasant past. 
Thank Him for this dear moment's life and love 

And for the future, — soon to be the past; — 
Beyond the gleam of yonder sunset glow 

Eternal glory gathers like a flood, 
There, endless joys forever onward flow, 

Thank God! "The gracious Giver of all good." 



-1 




II __ _ m 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



13 



Wiqtef. 

DECEMBER. 

1 love the early winter days 

When transient snow flakes fly, 
When healthy frost paves walks and ways 

And bracing gusts blow high ; 
When starry lights through long cold nights 

In myriad throngs appear, 
Field, lake and stream with crystals gleam 

O'er mountain, mead and mere. 

JANUARY. 

I love the middle winter days, 

Still bright with Christmas cheer, 
When men amend their former ways 

To start another year, 
When whirlwinds roam around our home 

And all within is gay, 
Or sleigh bells ring, and maiden's sing 

Along the moonlit way. 



FEBRUARY. 

I love the later winter days, 

The coldest of them all, 
When sunshine has no warming rays 

And frost bears strongest thrall ; 
The tempest's roar resounds no more 

Upon the startled ear, 
The cold moon looks down on my books 

And Nellie sitting near. 



14 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



VvH tne s ^y looks bleak and dreary, 

-^ Thick with clouds that cluster low ; 
Fitful blasts, shrill, sharp and eerie, 

Through the leafless forests blow ; 
Fickle sunlight seldom glances 

Through the curtains of the West, 
Like the reticent advances 

Of a shy, retiring guest. 

Harvest fields erstwhile so mellow, 

Now are solid as a stone; 
Pasture lands are sere and yellow, 

Marsh and mire to rock have grown ;— 
As the whistling winds sweep over 

Reedy fells and orchard trees, 
E'en the clumps of thrifty clover 

Droop before the frosty breeze. 

All the silent pools are hiding 
'Neath a coat that coldly gleams; 

Little floeo in fleets go riding 
Down the ice-embordered streams; — 

Suddenly a corn stack tumbles- 
Blown to fragments at my feet, 

And a mouse whose homestead crumbles 
Shivers in a gust of sleet . 

Gloomy shadows meet together. 

In mysterious forms they float ; 
Soon 'tis hard to answer whether 

Earth or Heaven's the more remote; 
As I walk I scarce remember 

Where to step or what to shun, — 
Truly this is dark December 

And the winter is begun. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 15 



T^e $i|o\vy Gflo&n\ii\^. 



/|ur three elms stand brown and bare 
^ 'Mid the chilly, stilly air 
Of the day; 
Grassy fields are dry and old, 
Trodden ground is hard and cold, 
Birds and beasts of wood and wold — 

Gone are they, 
And yon mountain outlines bold 
Fade away. 

Twilight darkness comes with speed 
Over moorland, marsh and mead, 

Dim and drear; 
All the thickets by the rill — 
All the orchards on the hill — 
All the groves that seem so still — 

Disappear; 
And the clouds all ether fill 

Denselv near. 



Soon the fences file away \ 

In a noiseless, ghostly way ) 

From the light ; { 

Then the homestead windows throw ) 

Kadiant gleams that flit and glow — 
Glancing brightly to and fro 

Through the night ; 
And the air is full of snow 

Thickly white. 




16 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Wide it covers hill and plain 
Like an ermine counterpane 

Deftly spread; 
O'er the frozen river where 
Growling waters hidden tear 
At the bond that binds them there 

In their bed, 
And the pine with list'ning air 

Bends its head. 



O'er the dusty, dismal town 
Softly, swiftly sinking down 

From on high; 
Over every wicked haunt- 
Sinks and slums where vices flaunt — 
Nests of sin that taunt and daunt 

Passers by. 
Spots where hunger, grim and guant 

Sitteth nish. 



O'er the level vacant moor 
Where the hapless vagrant poor 

Lowl} T lie; 
And the undulating dale 
Where the shafts serene and pale 
Ever tell the same old tale 

Pointing high; 
Earthly life is brief and frail, 

Man must die. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



17 



But the sun will shine again, 
By and by the deepest glen 

Will be warm ; 
Frost and snow will melt away, 
Birds will sing and zephyrs play, 
Flowers bloom and tendrils sway, 

Bees will swarm ; 
Blossoms, too, will strew the way 

In a storm. • 




18 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



¥}\e ^krly grjow ^torni. 



fi- 



luctant darkness slowly goes 
Before approaching dawn, 
And all day long one scarcely knows 

That night has surely gone. 
The mountains reach the leaden sky. 
While clouds adown the valley hie 

And kiss the iron ground; 
Our cottage seems a lonely thing, 
The bleak horizon's narrow ring 

So closely gathers 'round. 
And blasts that make the casements > 

Come rushing o'er the vale. 
While all the bursting cloudlets break 

In snow and sleet and hail. 



hake 



The cnildren hasten from their beds 

With many a merry shout. 
Because the whistling tempest spreads 

The drifting snow about, 
In pleasant programmes they indulge 
And schemes of strategy divulge 

Anent snow huts and forts. 
And ere they patter down the stair 
They've settled plans to pass a year 

In joyous winter sports; 
But mother keeps them safe and fast. 

Though she gets little peace, 
With wishings that the storm would last, 

And wishings it would cease. 



HOMESPUX VERSES. 



19 



8 Wiqtef ^efenade. 

T ove, the moon shines bright 
-*-AWith a mellow light 

Far away over hill and dale, 
And the crispy snow 
Sets the scene aglow 

Like a sheeny bridal veil; 
But night is night, though light it be, 
Unless your bright eyes beam on me. 

No presumptuous breeze 
Stirs the grave old trees 

With a whistle or caress, 
From ravine to height 
All the world's in white 

Like an ample bridal dress ; 
But noisy throbbings fill my ear 
Unless your gentle voice I hear. 

All the road is still 
To yon distant hill 

Through the pine-grove's fragrant arch. 
All's serene without 
Yet my heart beats out 

■ Like a thrilling wedding march; 
For me no solitude is fine 
Unless your hand is clasped in mine. 

Love : my sleigh awaits 
Twixt your open gates, 

Will you nestle at my side ? 
And our steeds will fly 
While the bells ring high 

Like the journey of a bride; 
But by your father's hearth abide 
Unless this be a wedding ride. 



20 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



"« 



gkqtk Clkti^V fjide. 

O tout Santa Claus cheerily cracks his whip 
) ^As he skims away o'er the hidden heather. 

) Fur-clad to his furthest finger tip, 

He gleefully laughfl at the Winter weather, 

Though the wind comes cold 

From the mountains hold 

Like a pittance doled with a misers pity. 

And the crusted snow 

Spreads an icy glow 

O'er the valley low and the sleeping city; 

Yet he sings a song as he spins along 

While his jingling hells gaily tinkle together, 

And this is the strain of his rude refrain 

Which he shouts amain in the teeth of the weather, 

"Away and away, ere the dawn of day 

We have visits to make many miles away, 

And calls where we've never sent warning. 

Tis a long year and drear since a frolic we've had, 

So the poor and the sad shall be merry and glad 

In the light of the Christmas morning.'" 



He rushes along over field and fen 

While the snow-dust rises in shining sparkles. 

And Hits like a flash through glade and glen 

And adown the pass where the forest darkles. 

Though the country rings 

With the songs he sings, 

Yet Old Echo's wings ever lag behind him, — 

Like the sun's lost star 

All his lost words are 

Ever following far, yet they never find him, 



£ 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 21 



For he cleaves the night with the speed of light 
With his tinkling bells and mellifluous laughter; 
And he slaps his knee in a gush of glee 



As these phrases free hasten briskly after, 



' ' Then away like a wink, ere the moon shall sink, 
We must lighten our load where the little ones think 
They will watch to catch Santa Claus napping ; 
But my messengers' pinions will pause as they fly, 
And close up every eye, be it sleepy or spry, 
Then I'll rustle in without rapping." 

With a shout he rapidly hurries past 

Where the mill-wheel rests 'neath its icy mounting, 

And the mill- wife dreams of times long past 

When howling wolves were past killing or counting; 

Then the silent charm 

Of the quiet farm 

Breaks with strange alarm at the apparition, 

And the watch-dogs bay 

Many miles away 

As along the way sweeps the vocal vision, 

And the lonely cot in the woodland lot 

Seems to rattle and ring with the ghostly greeting, 

While the woodman who hears to himself mutters 

fears 
That the noises are cheers from the witches' wild 

meeting, 
Shouting — "Up and away, never pause to play, 
We've so many to see ere the coming of day 
With our burdens of pleasure and treasure, — 
For the many we've goods, and for some we have gold, 
And for young and for old we've ' the story of old ' 
How He loved us all beyond measure." 



(fW 23 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



As the old chap whirls, like a wizard weird, 

Over frozen fells and through leafless thickets, 

The icy spears on his bushy beard 

Project, when he laughs, like a row of pickets; 

Soon he rumbles down 

From the hill-tops crown 

To the sleepy town, and comes up all standing 

By a cosy cot 

in a shady spot 

'Mid a meadow lot near the river landing, 

Then he slings a pack on his bulky back 

And springs to the roof like a frost-spangled fairy, 

And descends from view down the chimney tine 

With a footing true and a vision wary. 

And he fills the hose till they tear at the toes, 

And kisses the baby farewell ere he goes 

With a bound like a ball to the shingles, 

Then he quickly returns to his journey again 

While he rattles amain his own song and refrain, 

And he grius with delight till he tingles. 



His gallant team speedily rushes about, — 

And they need but a word to fly fast, or walk slowly 

Many mansions he scales on his serpentine route. 

But he oftenest enters the rooms of the lowly. 

For he loves to go 

Where the embers glow 

On a numerous row of stockings in sizes, 

And his bosom swells — 

As his fancy tells 

All the joy that dwells in his pack of prizes: — 



£ 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



23 



And the rosy flush of the morning's blush 

Just appears o'er the hills as his last visit's over, 

Then he whisks away with his empty sleigh 

While a watchman astray gazes after the rover ; 

As his lashes crack on his homeward track, 

He leaves many behind who will welcome him back, 

For he numbers his lovers by legions. 

And he'll hasten here with his cargo of cheer 

When he wakens once more, after sleeping a year, 

In his home in the Polar Regions. 




24 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



« 



8 Windy Wiitfe* jfigl|t. 

'Pis truly very cold without, — 
-*- Fierce blasts go booming by, — 
And scattered clouds in rapid rout 
Scud swiftly o'er the sky. 

The ground is thinly clad with snow, 

In many spots blown bare 
Where hoary grass that slept below 

Now trembles in the air. 

The scene seems like a work of art 

By some great Master made, 
Whose sky is but earth's counterpart 

Composed of light and shade. 

The ridge that bounds the Western \\v\\ 

Far as the eye can rove, 
Stands grandly forth more darkly blue 

Than anything above. 

The moon sweeps on through ether gray 

Above the tempest's roar, 
Like a cold maid who turns away 

From love forevermore. 

The forest trees whose bare arms clasp 

The winds that whistle by, 
Stoop as though starting from earth's grasp 

To warmer climes to fly, 






'Mid the bleak storm the cedars sing 

A loud prophetic tune, — 
The resurrection days of Spring 

Are surely coming soon. 

'Tis Christmas season — on the land 
Good will is full and free, 

But only God can lend a hand 
This night to those at sea. 



>r 9.R Trn\rB , .ST>Tnsr twrsws 



26 HOMESPUN VERSES 



^e $i]ow£toi<ii\ ii) tl\e G[rove. 

'T^he spotless snow comes softly down, 

*- And hides the ground, erst hard and brown 
Beneath a cover purely white 
Of flakes that glimmer in their flight 
Like crystals from celestial stars, 
Set free 'mid planetary jars. 



In myriad numbers too they fall, 
Some very large, — some very small, — 
But each distinct from all the rest, 
With its own character impressed, 
Like human things they hurry past, 
And lodge with Mother Earth at last. 



Sparrows and rabbits go astray. 
Their ancient landmarks all away — 
Deeply concealed— they know not where- 
By snow that still loads earth and air, 
Till e'en the stream they knew so well 
Seems but a pathway through the dell. 



The forest trees that thickly grow 
Are beautifully clad with snow, 
No longer standing gaunt and bare 
With arms upraised as though in prayer 
For leaves to come,— the downy fall 
In splendid robes enwraps them all. 



\W 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



2? 



Though icy cold the snow-drops swarm, 
Yet all the frozen soil they warm ; 
The carpet that they deftly spread 
For frosty Winter's heavy tread 
Saves feeble life and makes it whole, — 
As pure religion does the soul. 




28 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



I<iite£ fof % Sttfi^ $u§>f)er of l8f6. 

cDVae Lowland mead, frae Highland moor, 
Frae lonely craig, frae loch's still shore, 
Frae bristling rocks where billows roar 
An' salt spray blaws aboot ; 
Frae peacefu' stream, frae stormy firth, 
Frae busy toon, frae shieling hearth, — 
Ay,-Aiblins were ye're place o'birth 
The wicked warld withoot, 
Ye'll find no rude distinctions here, 
But ilka mon's "a trusty fier" 
An' welcome to our canty cheer 
Like lads o' "Auld Lang Syne," 
If but his soul wi' ardor burns 
As to the land o' Cakes he turns 
An' greets a bit o'er Hobby Burns, 
Auld Scotia's Bard Divine. 



Frae Scottish ports, on ilka side, 

Braw lads gang forth on ilka tide 

To destinations far an' wide 

Scattered aboon the earth; 

Some spread the Gospel tidings far, J» 

Some lead the lave in bluidy war 

Some deal wi heathen folk afar 

An' get their money's worth, 

An' be their bags wi' siller stored \ 

Or hae they gowd in mony a hoard 

Or be their saftest bed a board \ 

Their coverlet the sky, v 






This nicht true Scots, where'er they roam, 
On solid land or fleeting foam, 
All fondly rue the childhood's home 
They've lang since left for aye. 

The bonny burn they paidlit through 
The starry sky, nane else sae blue, 
The purple heather bright wi' dew, 
The gowans on the brae, 
The auld folk by the ingle neuk, 
The warkfu' mither's loving luik, 
The merry bairn's, the Sacred Bulk, 
The prayers at gloaming gray — 
Wi sic like scenes their bosoms swell 
As Burns's varse they sing and tell 
While Fancy answers Music's spell, 
An' each auld neebor yearns. 
An' *'• mon wi mon the wide warld o'er " 
Though born on mony a distant shore 
" Shall brithers be " till this nicht's o'er 
For love of Robert Burns. 




30 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 






Will You <8e My Vklentine ? 

Sweetheart, when young tendrils twine, 
Will you be my valentine? 
When the fragrant breezes speed 
O'er the orchard and the mead. 
And the honey-suckles nod 
To the blooming clover sod? 
Tell me, darling, sweet and low, 
Ere the winter moon sinks low. 



When the luscious cherries shine. 
Will you be my valentine? 
When the yellow grain-fields bend 
To the kiss the woodlands send, 
And censorious comments warn 
All the prim and upright corn? 
Answer, dearest, soft and low. 
As we skim across the snow. 



When rich clusters grace the vine. 
Will you be my valentine? 
When the jealous hazes hide 
Mountain top and dingle side, 
And Earth's ripened products pass 
Gladly to the sheltering grass? 
Whisper tenderly 'tis so, 
Ere from out the grove we go. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



When the frosty days decline, 
Will you be my valentine? 
When the stars drop tears of snow 
On the naked earth below, 
And the glassy lake replies 
To the glances of the skies? 
Breathe into my ear, just so, 
While the sleigh-bells jingling go. 

See, I hold your hand in mine, 
Will you be my valentine? 
When the seasons come and go 
Swift for weal and slow for wo, 
And the years like steps ascend 
To the love that knows no end? 
What you said, I do not know, 
But I'm sure it was not "No! " 




HOMESPUN VERSES. 



>lkfyV Valentir\e£. 

\A/ hen the short wintry day was o'er, 
* * A comely maiden sat before 
A table, where lay spread 
Three valentines, of style and hue 
Quite dainty, — forth the first she drew, 
And laughingly she read : 
"Oh! Lady, I would be a flower, 
To die in fragrance on your breast ; 
Or a chaste star, at midnight hour 
To kiss your eyelids while }'ou rest; 
Or a soft breeze, at mid-day fair 
To lift the ringlets of your hair 
And whisper tender wishes there." 

Twas signed with a romantic name; 

She knew who sent it just the same, 

And llxed it in her mirror's frame, 

In future to amuse; 

Then smiling sweetly, took apart 

A second "herald of the heart," 

And found amid that work of art 

These verses to peruse : 

"Fair Damsel, would that you might need 

A champion bold, or warrior true, 

By brave emprize to win the meed 

Of laurel wreaths, and smiles from you; 

Against all comers I would stand, 

Your doughty knight with sword in hand, 

To do, or die, at your command." 



-^->^^-<— ^-v^wLPQi 



.o^^ 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 33 



This was subscribed by "Roderick Dhu," 

Full well the clerkly hand she knew, 

And that " a cloth-yard shaft" he drew 

That ne'er was dipped in gore ; — 

She put this one away with care, 

Then with an interested air 

Took up the last epistle there, 

And these lines pondered o'er : 

" Dear Mary, X have loved you long, 

And I will love you evermore, 

My heart is stout, my arm is strong, 

I am not versed in lover's lore. 

Nor flowing phrases can I bring, 

But if my suit is no vain thing 

I pray you wear this little ring." 

She kissed the name below, — twas "John, 
And hid it where her brooch went on, — 
Or somewhere thereabout, — 
The circlet fitted very well, 
And in a reverie she fell, 
Until the light went out. 




HOMESPUN VERSES. 



®itd £° ^ I. 



Human life's a changeful tale, 

More strange than any book I know ; 
We live two lives, — one like the gale, 
And one, the deep sea down below. 
Now here am I, and there's my wife, 

We've seen romance in days gone by, 
And love each other more than life, 
Though she is old and so am I. 



The evening of Saint Valentine, 

Two score and more of years ago, 
I asked my sweetheart to be mine, 

While moonlight shone on crusted snow. 
I kissed her by her father's gate, 

Suit nor salute did she deny; 
But sagely said we'd have to wait; 

For she was young and so was 1. 



I waited — I thought — long enough, 

Perhaps about a year or so ; 
But then her father was so gruff, 

And told me I must let her go. 
He had hard struggling from the start, 

That plan his daughter should not try; 
Better for both of us to part, 

For she was poor and so was I. 



4k 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



I sought my fortune in the West, 

Where fortunes as in fables grow ; 
But though I strove with manly zest, 

My growth in riches was but slow : 
When once again I sought the East, 

My whilom sweetheart seemed quite shy. 
We met and passed like nun and priest, 

For she was wed, — and so was I. 



We met again in after years ; 

She wore the sable garb of woe, 
And looked so lovely in her tears 

I thought I never loved her so ; 
I gently sought to soothe her grief, 

She pressed my hand and heaved 
All earthly happiness is brief, 

She was bereft, and so was I. 



We bolh had loved our consorts well 

While they were with us here below, 
Nor ever troubled them to tell 

Of scenes as vague as last year's snow; — 
Now they were happy, — we were free, 

And thought it well once more to try, 
So my old sweetheart married me, 

Then she was glad, — and so was I. 



36 HOMESPUN VERSES. ^ V 



#pril^. 



AAThen the mighty gales come sweeping, 

^ ^ And the fitful blasts go leaping, 
While the sullen clouds seem keeping 

Snow and sleet and rain from falling; 
Then the river ice is breaking, 
And the frozen ponds are quaking 
As the waterfalls are waking, 

E'en the little brooks are brawling: — 
Bright and green the moss appears 
Through the melting snow-drift's tears, 

And the bluebird's song is heard; — 
Through the soul these things are borne; — 
So the heart, by troubles torn, 

Feels a kindly deed or word. 

APRIL. 

When the fields but now so yellow 
Turn to pastures green and mellow, 
And the robin seeks his fellow 

In the willows by the river; 
In the west the storm-cloud lowers. 
And the early springing flowers 
Glisten, wet with passing showers; — 

Countless dripping leaflets quiver, 
As the sunshine, bright and warm 
Follows fast the recent storm, 

And the vagrant zephyrs blow; — 
Then this world seems full of bliss 
As a maiden's tender kiss; — 

Notwithstanding want and wo. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. ,37 



MAY. 

When the dusky dawn is ringing, 
With the birds' tumultuous singing, 
And the coming morn is flinging 

Bright fore-runners of its glory 
All the wide horizon over ; 
While the fragrant blossoms cover 
Orchard trees and fields of clover; 
\ Then we learn the ancient story, 

Earthly bloom needs heavenly light, 
Ere its perfectness delight, 

Or its flowers fruitage bring; 
Brief and precious is the scope 
Of the joyful time of Hope,— 

Time of promise, — gentle Spring. 






HOMESPUN VERSES. 



&ddfe$ to k Slkde of 0i$#. 



I 



doubt not if you only knew 

How hard this world would be with you, 

Poor inoffensive stranger ; 
How you'd be trodden under foot, 
And cut with steel clear to your root, 

And all your life in danger 
From bird and insect, beast and man, — 
The changes of a season's span, — 

And every kind of weather; — 
You'd seek some subterranean cell, 
And gladly bid a long farewell 

To light and life together. 



Bright, tender, early, peeping thing. 
First swordsman of advancing spring, 

Cleaving your snowy cover, 
Your valiant blade thrust not too fast— 
A smell of "Winter's on the blast— 

And frost is not j r et over; 
The white snow fleeing from the light 
Becomes black ice in early night. 

Already 'tis congealing; 
So breathing blades oft find, like you, 
Before their Summer day is through, 

A coldness 'round them stealing. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 39 



Indeed, green sprig, I think I see 
A parity 'twixt you and me 

Which brings us close together, 
And for my own sake then, I'll try 
To make your hillock warm and dry, 

And hide you from bad weather; 
And then mayhap some being rare, — 
To me unseen — that roves through air 

"While I to earth am holden, 
May cover me from storm and blast, 
And bring me safely through at last 

To Light serene and golden. 



Ah, yes, young friend, your shoot foretells 
The tinkle of the cattle bells, 

Green pastures and fresh flowers ; 
The rustling fields, the whispering rills, 
The leafy forests on the hills, 

The birdlings in their bowers ; 
So one more look before I go, 
The clouds of night hang dense and low, 

Like ships that sail deep-laden , ( 

I see in you with loving eyes 
< The sweetest thing beneath the skies — 

A fair and modest maiden. 



40 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



And thus the truth comes home to me, 
i In you a type of love I see, 

True, earnest, everlasting; 
An emblem too, of life, you seem, — 
Without your family I deem 

The world would soon be fasting: 
And when the autumn days come on, 
The neutral hues of age you don 

Your seed about you sending; — 
Like us, to earth your body goes, 
In silent slumber to repose 

Till God shall give it ending. 



Life, Love and Immortality 
Thus seen, become reality, 

My lowly fellow being; 
And as the hurrying night conies fast 
I rise to leave your side at last, 

Your leaf no longer seeing; 
My thoughts then take a wider range, 
Your origin and structure strange 

Suggest a revelation ; 
To this conclusion then I pass 
I see in just one blade of grass 

God and his whole creation. 



■» __ 4» 



v|) I own where the mountain rill 
-^ Splashes the plain 
Bright sparkling fountains spill 

Showers of rain. 
Ragged rocks, hurling foam, 

Mar the pool's face, 
White bubbles whirling roam 

After their race ; 
There rippling billows end 

Lost in dry sedge, 
Bare, leafless willows bend 

O'er the pool's edge, 
Sportive fish travel where 

'Neath the clear stream 
Pebbles and gravel rare 

Glisten and gleam. 



Snow-wreaths in thickets deep 

Weeping abide, 
Cedars like pickets creep 

Up the hill side, 
Ramparts of bristling stone 

Bar the North blast, 
March's rude whistling tone 

Seldom flies past, 



42 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Meadow lands serely bare, 

Yellow and dry, 
All most austerely stare 

At the gray sky, 
Sturdy trees, raising arms 

Naked and drear, 
Dot all the grazing farms 

Distant and near. 



('lose to that purling stream, 

Under a tree, 
Crocus blooms curling gleam 

Pleasant to see: — 
" Maiden so dutiful, 

Pitcher in hand, 
Head from this beautiful 

Leaf in my hand." 
"White is for Purity, 

Blue is for Truth, 
Green for futurity, 

Also for youth." 
Then say I — "Crocus Blue, 

This much is sure, 
Love shall aye yoke us two, 

Young, True and Pure." 



m 



HOMESPUN TERSES. 43 



Sftef tl\e Sloj^om ^torn-\. 

Y^"on orchard blossomed yesterday 
■^ Like some magnificent bouquet 

In fragrant glory blooming ; 
The springing grass shone darkly green 
With shifting spaces trees between 

A sunnier shade assuming. <J 



A storm arose at eventide, 

The whirlwind blew on every side 

With power fierce and lusty, — 
Till early dawn the tempest roared, 
The rain in dashing torrents poured, 

The night was drear and gusty. 



To-day the air is calm and clear, 
No blossoms on the trees appear, 

The orchard grass is lying < 

'Neath blossom leaves that still exhale 
Through bruises made by rain and gaie 

Aroma rare, though dying. . ) 

) 
•) 

Though flowers are gone the trees remain, 

All brighter for the recent rain ) 

And gay with verdant lustre, 

And on their boughs fresh fruit appears, ; 

With apple trees of future years \ 

Concealed in bunch and cluster. ) 



WIS 44 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



w 



Vlje JVIkideiiV ®fgo£y. 

hat can it be? "What can it be? 
Speeding from far o'er the glistening 



Stray fleece of cloud, or wind-driven spray. 
Mate seeking bird or fairy-like fay; 
Steadily nearing the sea-bordered lea, 
What can it be? What can it be? 

What can it be? What can it be? 
Eager birds chase it in carolling glee — 
Passing the lightship, and cleariug the spit, 
Soaring far faster than wishes can flit, 
llitherward hastening, speeding to me — 
What can it be? What can it be? 

What can it be? What can it be? 
And what is it bearing so swiftly to me. 
Message of hope, or warrant of fears, 
Rich freight of joy or burden of tears - .' 
Or is it a wraith wending homeward to me? 
What can it be? What can it be? 

What can it be? What can it be? 
Bringing sweet odors from spice-margined sea? 
A scrap of a love song, a curl of brown hair, 
A glance of an eye, and a smile fond and rare, 
Shaping its fleeting directly toward me — 
What can it be? What can it be? 

What can it be? What can it be? 
Sparkling and radiant, blithesome and free: 
A bit of bright sunshine, a scrap of blue sky, 
A tender heart-prayer, and a tremulous sigh 
With a true lover's kiss from my Johnny to me. 
Sent over the sea, far over the sea. 



#J 




¥o Ofkrtge ]Moui\taii|. 

cDVom thy bright summit, azure range, 

How grand the view must be 
Of pleasant grove and peaceful grange,— 
Of vessels bearing colors strange, 
And cities by the sea. 

From thy bright summit, sunny ridge, 
When silent night steals nigh, 

The brilliant sunset builds a bridge 
Athwart the azure sky. * 

On thy bold summit, mountain height, 

When eventide has come, 
Thy twinkling lamps with stars unite 
To form a thoroughfare of light 

To Heaven's distant dome. 

On thy bold summit, verdant mount, 
When midnight moonlight shines, 

Then gleams afar thy hidden fount 
That flows among the vines. 

On thy fair summit, lovely hill, 

When morning mists arise, 
The sunbeams all thy forests fill, 
While yet the vale is cold and chill, 

And still in slumber lies. 

On thy fair summit, O Watchung! 

I could forever gaze ; — 
But ah ! 'twould take an angel's tongue 

To fitly sing thy praise. 



46 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



~~^R 



Tl^e Villa $ite. 

\\ 7 here the apple boughs bend low 
^ ^ And the sweetest blossoms blow, 
"Where the blue birds sing in the early Spring 
And the morning-glories grow. 

Where the cloudy shadows flee 
O'er the banquet of the bee, 
And the fountain shoots through the twisted 
roots 
Of the sturdy greenwood tree. 

Where the clover loves to grow 
'Mid the buttercups' rich glow, 

And the daisies drink at the brooklet's brink 
As the bubbles dancing go. 

Where the robins build their nest 
And no danger dare molest, 

And the spreading pool in the evening cool 

Wears the stars upon its In-east. 

Where the blushing roses gleam 
In the sun's last slanting beam, 

And the light and shade by the young moon 
made 
Seem the pictures of a dream. 

Where the silver moonlight shines 
Through the honeysuckle vines, 

And the dew-drops gem every swaying stem 
As the night winds stir the pines. 

AVhere the lane winds through the dell 
There my bride and I will dwell, 

For my bird is won when my cage is done 
And the builders build it well. 




« 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



47 



® Gfafly Reverie. 



"\ /f id ferns and flowers I recline, 
J VI While birds flit to and fro 
Through coverts hid by tree and vine 
Whose shoots and tendrils twist and twine, 
Where mountain breezes blow 
And mountain streamlets flow. 



In pensive silence I look down 

Through noontide's sultry glare, 
And gaze upon the distant town 
Whose very spires with dust are brown, 
And tremble in the air 
Like mother's anxious prayer. 



The burning road winds lone and still 

Across the torrid plain, 
The brook creeps past the idle mill, 
The mowers seek the wooded hill, 
The farmers sigh for rain 
To save their scorching grain. 



Men toil amid that heat, 'tis told 

By some wee bird to me, 
Some toil for bread, some toil for gold, 
And one — more brave than knight of old- 

With love armed cap-a-pie 

Toils on for love of me. 



48 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Otrf I<ittle gtlrf. 



/|ne starlight night Janet and I 
^^ Stood hand in hand upon a hill. 
While searching all the brilliant sky 
To find a sphere our hearts to fill ; 
She chose a star that brightly shone, 
Which we might thenceforth call our own. 



She said, — when I was far away 
'Twould be an omen in the air 

That she would seek at close of day 
While whispering her evening prayer; — 

She paused, and gazed on azure space, 

While I looked on her upturned face 



With tender ardor 1 replied, 
That nightly when they beat tattoo 

I'd note amid the Heaven's wide 
Yon crystal drop of stany dew, 

And her petitions pure would be 

Prayers in my stead and prayers for me. 



r# 



w 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



49 



And we agreed, when Time should end 
And this brief life should be no more, 

Thither our joyful flight should tend, 
If we might thus together soar ; 

That spot of all the gleaming dome 

Should be our everlasting home, 



I went to battlefields afar, 
My patriotic zeal to prove; 

The planet shone o'er scenes of War, 
An emblem of eternal love ; 

Till a swift comet in its flight 

Long hid my orb from human sight. 



I spoke no word of dread or f ear 
To comrade dear or tent-mate true, 

But in my soul forebodings drear 
Tinged every hope a sombre hue, 

For with the meteor's latest ray 

I knew Janet would pass away. 



'Twas years ago, and yet at night 
When all below is hushed in sleep 

I watch that twinkling spark of light, 
Until with yearning thoughts, and deep, 

I almost see her spirit fair 

Await my coming over there. 



50 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 






tfor ©edorktion f)ay. 



/^\n a beautiful May morning, when fair 
^ flowers were adorning 
Hill and valley, wood and meadow, like 
the landscapes of the blest ; 
In a lane I saw a maiden, tripping on with 
blossoms laden, 
Till beneath a leafy shadow she delayed 
awhile to rest. 



Mild she was, and unassuming, yet with all BO 
bright and blooming 
That I deemed her an addition to the whole 
delightful scene, 
And I thought of saints in glory as she told 
her artless story 
Of the meaning of her mission with fresh 
buds and wreaths of green. 



"Sir," she said, "here in my pocket I've a 
fine old golden locket, 
And the likeness from it gazes of a hand- 
some man in blue ; 
Father, he was, of my mother, and there 
never was another 
More deserving of the praises of the loyal, 
brave and true. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 




• ' Many times he'd known the rattle, and the 
hum, and jar of battle, 
Ere he heard the cannons roaring early on 
his dying day, 
When through all the mountain passes rolled 
the swarming gray-clad masses, 
In a turbid torrent pouring on the Union 
troops at bay. 

" ' Soon they spread out under cover till our 
left flank they lapped over, 
And their skirmishes were firing at detach- 
ments in our rear, 
While our front kept backward falling, under 
fire both sharp and galling, — 
Slowly, sullenly retiring as the foe came 
crowding near. 



"In a fierce and reckless manner grandsire 
waved his starry banner, 
Then its staff, he boldly planted in a daisy 
covered knoll ; 
But the blue line, rearward going, left him 
there — defiance showing — 
While the gray line onward panted with his 
standard as their goal. 

' ' By his colors there he halted, in an attitude 
exalted 
While his fellows still receded and the 
enemy drew nigh : 
Though the gap grew wide behind him, yet 
no comrade seemed to mind him, 
But deserted him, unheeded, all alone to 
dare and die — 




52 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



4 ' Then his regiment grew steady — they moved 
forward quick and ready ; — 
Filled with fervid emulation, all the whole 
brigade advanced ; — 
Each command in the division started onward 
with decision, 
And the army felt elation as their ensigns 
onward danced. 



"So the colors were not taken, though the 
sergeant was forsaken, 
But the hostile ranks were broken and de- 
feat upon them fell ; 
When the stars were shining dimly, on that 
knoll they laid him grimly, 
With a brief rite rudely spoken, where be- 
side his flag he fell. 



"There he sleeps, beneath the clover, as the 
birds his bed sing over, 
And the Stars and Stripes unfading ripple 
out upon the breeze; 
TInion, Liberty and Order, to our farthest 
Southern border, 
Are as sacred and pervading as beside our 
inland seas. 




HOMESPUN VERSES. 53 



"For his sake, then, I have started for the 
graves of the departed, 
With these decorations floral for each friend- 
less soldier's tomb, 
On this day, with garlands pretty, we display 
grief, pride and pity, 
For the men who fought our quarrel in the 
days of doubt and gloom." 

Thus she finished her narration, and I made 
the observation, 
That the load she trembled under she ought 
not to bear alone, 
So we journeyed on together, and I sometimes 
wonder whether 
We shall e'er be long asunder till we reach 
our own grave stone. 

By the vernal zephyrs^ lifted, like a cloud at 
sunset rifted, 
There our splendid emblem floated midway 
in the pleasant air; 
Ah! How changed would be the feeling if 
old men beneath were kneeling 
While some strange cross there they noted, — 
hard indeed for them to bear. 

Well, we took plants, blooms and creepers to 
the City of the Sleepers, 
And we saw committees hover many new- 
made mounds beside, 



54 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



% 



Then we found our home contingent under 
martial law so stringent 
That the veterans go over, and report — the 
other side. 

Year by year these brave men muster in a 
small and dwindling cluster. 
And the people notice sadly how the boys 
in blue turn gray: 
As their earthly roll grows shorter they meet 
in a better quarter, 
Where their tent-mates greet them gladly in 
the land of endless day. 

It is well their graves to cherish, lest their 
memories should perish, 
For this busy generation might forget the 
deeds they've done; 
And this custom, pure and holy, sweetly 
speaks of patriots lowly. 
And the calm self-abnegation of the men of 
Sixty-One. 

With a sentiment domestic, patriotic and ma- 
jestic, 
Let us close;— Oh! May we never in a civil 
warfare be, — 
May our homes ne'er lack defenders fit to 
punish all offenders, 
May our country live forever, and our flag 
be ahvays free. 



& 



w 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 55 



I<ii\e£ forf Sedofktion f)ay. 



) 

AATe meet to-day to decorate c 

^ * Our soldiers' graves with flowers, S 

And vow their way to emulate < 

Whenever danger lowers ; ) 

We gladly call their chieftain's great, ( 

And welcome them with cheers, ) 

For love of all who met dread Fate ( 

Like Union Volunteers. / 



In dark morass where mosses trail, — 

By bayous lone and still, — 
In mountain pass where rainbows vail 

The limped plunging rill, — 
On quagmire's crust, or arid plain, 

Afar from human tears, 
Interred by dust and leaves and rain, 

Sleep Union Volunteers. 

: ; 

In barren sands along the shore I 

Where ocean billows beat, ) 

In forest lands where men no more ( 

In awful warfare meet, ) 

On slopes remote where baltles raged ', 

And warriors fought their peers, ) 
With nought to note who were engaged, — 

Lie Union Volunteers. ? 



56 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Wi 



They loved their soil, their homes, their wives, 

Their children, sweethearts, sires ; — 
Their honest toil brought quiet lives, 

And moderate desires ; 
With high resolve they said farewell 

To all that life endears, 
] )etermined Treason to repel 

As Union Volunteers. 

The few lie here, —the many there 

Still slumber where they fell, 
Roses and clover blossoms fair 

And violets mark them well ; 
And though so far from home they lie 

We give them smiles and tears. 
And honor with both shout and sigh 

Those Union Volunteers. 

But as they bravely bled and died 

In agony and pain, 
We say to-day with honest pride 

They did not die in vain ; 
For though the thinning legions go 

Adown the slope of years, 
Freedom and Unity we owe 

To Union Volunteers. 

Another generation bold 

Crowds on the stage of life. 
To them the war's a story told 

Of other people's strife; 
But in their hands our flag will fly 

Above all foes and fears, 
On them our Nation can rely 

For Union Volunteers. 



M 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 57 



^ucqnqei 4 . 



JUNE. 



Tn the long days pleasant gloaming, 
I, 'Twixt the sun and stars, 

When the soul would fain go roaming 

Free from mortal bars ; 
Gentle night winds stir the roses, 
As the door of daylight closes 

In the Western sky; 
And the shades of dusk fall thickly, 
As oblivion gathers quickly 

Over men who die; 
Tunefully the streamlet's tinkle 

In the leafy grove — 
Tallies with the rhythmic twinkle 

Of the orbs above. 



Distant drowsy bells are telling 
Midnight on the air, 

Denizens of field and dwelling- 
Slumber everywhere ; 

Troops of shadows flee to cover, 

As the smiling moon peeps over 
Each umbrageous hill ; 



58 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



f5 



And amid its lustrous glimmer 
Dusky woodland aisles grow dimmer. 

And more silent still ; 
Rills and rivers smile unwrinkled 

By the slightest breeze, 
While the foliage droops unsprinkled 

On the dusty trees. 



AUGUST 



Crickets chirp and birds are singing 

At the break of day, 
While the lavish sun is flinging 

Streams of tints away; 
Busy farmers, brown and burly, 
Haste to labor, bright and early. 

Ere the day be clear; 
Making hillside echoes chatter 
With the loudly rattling clatter 

Of the reaping gear; 
While the gleeful children ramble 

'Mid the orchards cool, 
Or with laughter splash and gamble 

In some quiet pool. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 59 



hail! 



I< 



f et me look into your eyes, 
Gentle maiden Margaret; 
In their depths a secret lies 
That I never can surprise, 
Nor discover, nor forget; — 
Do not harbor, nor abet, 

Visitors you will not own ; 
Lift the curtains higher yet 
From those orbs of pansy brown, 
While I wistfully look down 
\ Let my ardent gaze be met, 

' Bonnie lassie Margaret. 

! 



Do not smile and turn away, 

Gentle maiden Margaret ; 
Though the night be bright as day- 
All unseen we slowly stray 
By this lonely rivulet ; 
\ Soon the silver moon will set, 

Then 'twill be too dark to see, 
And I fear I shall regret 
That I had not been more free,— 
( That I let this moment flee, — 

That one glimpse I failed to get, 
Bonnie lassie Margaret. 
\ 



HOMESPUN YERSES. 



Now at last the moon is low, 

Gentle maiden Margaret ; 
There is something I would know 
Ere the breeze begins to blow; 
Clouds are rising, black as jet, 
And I fear 'twill soon be wet; 

Like a suitor I pursue 
For my equitable debt. 

So, — persistently I woo 

For one word, — for I love you, — 
Tis enough, — our lips have met, — 
Bonnie lassie Margaret. 



F ABE WELL] 

Let me look into your eyes. 

True and tender Margaret ; 
In their depths the love-lights rise 
Like the beacons of the skies, 
O'er my pathway rough and wet, 
While I hear the boding fret 

Of the river, dark and lone. 
Whence no mortal ever yet 

Came to tell what cheer he'd known 

Thither let your glance be thrown 
As I near those waves of jet. 
Faithful consort Margaret. 



M 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 




61 



Do not weep and turn away, 
True and tender Margaret ; 
Soon with wistful gaze I'll stray 
Where the little angels play, 
Seeking her we'll ne'er forget, 
Whom we lost with such regret 

When her sinless soul went free 

From the form we dream of yet ; — 

With what happiness and glee 

Your glad coming we will see, 

When you've paid earth's final debt, 

Faithful consort Margaret. 



Now at last my life is low, 

True and tender Margaret ; 
How you hate to let me go, — 
And I'm loth to leave you so, — 
But your eyes grow dim and set 
Through their fringes dripping wet ;- 

Life will be a cross to you 
Till your summons home you get ; 
Farewell love, my time is through, 
Soon we'll meet beyond the blue, 
Where you'll wear a coronet. 
Faithful consort Margaret. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



^ 



8 jVloorjli^t Pidture. 

'T^he perfect moon moves through the sky, 

Diffusing light afar, 
So bright that one can scarce espy 
The shimmer of a star. 



No cloud bespecks the dome of blue, 
Whose edges hem us 'round. 

Save at earth's rim a fleecy lew 
That linger near the ground. 



'Mid dark green trees that thickly throng 

The chapel glimmers white. 
And from its doors a sacred song 

Floats out upon the night. 



The cricket chirps beneath the rose. 

Whose fragrant petals fly, 
As through the elm the night breeze blows 

With Nature's plaintive sigh. 



The mountain on the hither side 
Presents a mystic wall; 

And yonder sombre groves abide, 
Like sentries grim and tall. 



.M 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 63 ^ y | 



Through pasture-lots with dew-drops gay, 

And grain-fields fair to see, 
The brook pursues its devious way, 

While searching: out the sea. 



Behind the grove the grave-yard lies, 
Quite hidden from the sight ; 

How bright the cold white stones arise 
On such a brilliant night ! 



Beyond the mountain lies a land ) 

By teeming millions held, ( 

With hopes as high and plans as grand 
As Time has yet beheld. 



Beyond the grass and groves and graves 

The clustered cities grace 
The ocean's marge, whose current laves 

The cradle of our race. 



Beyond the barriers of the skies, 
Whose radiance spreads abroad, 

The undimmed eye of Faith descries 
The paradise of God. 



64 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Sfloat oi) Xewafk <Bay. 



MMie moou peeps over Bergen Hill, 
*~ And gleams athwart the placid bay 

The balmy air's serene and still. 
Not even fitful zephyrs play. 



The line 'twixt Watchung hills and sky 
Is lost in silvery, shimmering haze; 

The distant stars seem coy and shy. 
And twinkle dimly 'neath our gaze. 



Nor croaking owl disturbs the spell. 

Nor howling hound destroys the charm; 
Nor clangs the steamer's startling bell, 

Nor shrieks the rail cars' shrill alarm. 



The risen tide is at the flood, 
And pauses ere it ebbs again ; 

Deep silence clings about the wood, 
And stillness haunts the grassy plain. 



W 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Our little boat has ceased to move, 
I lean upon my noiseless oars, 

And gaze intently on my love, 
Whose glances seek the sedgy shores. 



Nor heeds she all my loving pain, 
But, in an absent, pensive way, 

Her fingers make a pearly rain 
With water taken from the bay. 



The while she sings. Her plaintive strain 
Blends softly with the mellow air, 

And wondering echoes strive in vain 
To mimic tones so sweet and rare. 



Abundant pathos fills her heart, 
And lingers in her wistful strain; 

"I would to thee my grief impart," 
She sighs, "Ah! parting, love, is pain!' 



Her singing o'er, our boat through space 
Drifts slowly on the falling tide; 

We, who were sitting face to face, 
Are closely clinging side by side. 






HOMESPUN VERSES. 



^e JJid-f)ay Dfekm. 



© 



vp lown in the City's thickest throng,- 



Myself among the busiest there, — 
A tuneful sound that lingered long 

Rang sweetly on the sultry air; 
My car alone its tone could tell, 

Though only once I heard its strain, — 
It was my native village bell 

Whose charming chime seemed come again; 
And mem'ry's mirage filled my heart 

With sunny scenes of youthful joy, — 
'Mid verdant sylvan vales apart 

I roamed once more. — a blissful boy. 



1 saw the stone church firmly stand 

Among its builders' sunken graves, 
With porthole windows wisely planned 

To battle with wild Indian braves; 
Above the ancient oaken door 

A learned Latin legend ran. 
Full many a scholar conned it o'er 

And owned himself a vanquished man; 
The buttressed belfry higher rose, 

A gilded clock on ev'ry side. 
And mighty rackets thence arose 

On stroke of Twelve at noon-da v tide. 



* 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



) 



Though towering trees the clocks concealed 

The ponderous bell hung higher far, 
The tower trembled when it pealed 

And solid ground seemed all ajar; 
Ere rebels rose their King to vex ; — 

'Twas cast — upon a foreign shore — 
While yet we prayed for Georgius Rex, 

A century ago and more ; 
They hung it with a barbecue, 

With loyal prayers and lusty cheers, 
And well it rang the cycles through, 

With peals for joy and tolls for tears. 



The slender steeple strove to fit 

The dizzy zenith of the sky, 
And brave was he who'd dare admit 

Another pinnacle so high, 
The burnished bell that looked so slight 

Would measure fully four-feet-three, 
A strolling sailor scaled its height 

And said that he could see the sea, 
The shifting vane that swif tly paid 

Alert obedience to the breeze 
Spun on the spire where moonbeams played 

When darkness dwelt among the trees. 



(jr 68 HOMESPUN VERSES. x 

( 



The Sexton's shoes squeaked protests loud 

As hard he hauled the belfry rope, 
Laboriously he stretched and bowed. 

Till — looking toward the turret cope, — 
He saw the bell stand at a poise 

A moment's space,— then he let go, — 
The bell rang with a deaf ning noise. 

The dangling line danced to and fro; 
Once I essayed to pull a peal, 

Hand over hand with vigor rare. 
Too soon revolved the whirling wheel 

And I went whizzing through the air. 



I saw the people passing in, 

How well each friendly face I knew. 
As quietly I walked within 

And down the aisle to father's pew ; 
There sat my sire, a man of grace. 

Like some old prophet grave and grand; 
There beamed my mother's pensive face. 

To me the fairest in the land; 
And there were all our ruddy troop, 

From baby Bess to burly Ben, 
Save me, — 1 stole among the group, 

While mother smoothed my hair again. 



& 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 69 



I sat in my accustomed seat ( 

Between my mother and the wall, \ 

And noted from that snug retreat 

The gathered throng, — I knew them all; 
There was old Van— his arms he bore 

Askew like any raw recruit, } 

Clumsy, and conscious that he wore ( 

With Sabbath habits,— Sunday's suit; 
The strong and brawny blacksmith came ) 

Perspiring in his checkered coat, 
Clean shaven save a stubby frame i 

Of grizzly whiskers 'round his throat. 

) 



And then old Spice who kept the store 

And thought this world would shortly end 
But skimped and hoarded more and more 

While prophet Daniel he'd defend ; — 
Men meekly bowed to Boniface 

Who'd mortgages on half their farms, 
His wife swept in with brazen face 

And blazing bracelets on her arms ; 
The swarthy foreigner strode in 

Like Gomez in the yellow books, 
Some said a Pirate he had been, — 

He surely had a Pirate's looks. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



« 



The bald and bearded Builder too 

Cowered beside his wizzened wife, 
He'd married money and a shrew 

And rae'd his folly all his life; 
And Nimshi with the ruddy nose 

Who ioved his tap and loathed his trade, 
And seldom made a pair of shoes 

Because the business never 'paid'; 
The sturdy butcher with his boys 

From whom good children kept aloof. 
Whose jolly grins and chattering noise 

Provoked the Pastor's stein reproof. 



As-glancing at the outer gate — 

< I saw the Miller's daughter there, 
J I sharply pulled my collar straight 

( And slyly stroked my wayward hair, 
And as she tripped along the aisle 

< I fell my face grow fiery red, 

J And when she smiled with girlish guile 

( 1 shyly bowed my burning head; 

I On her behalf I had become 

{ The bashful butt of kith and kin, 

J Gladly I heard the bell's last hum 

< Which hushed the house, — and church 
( 

( in. 



4 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 71 



The choir from their pent-up place 

"Sang to the worship of the Lord," 
And mother's ' air ' and father's ' bass ' 

" Joined in the song with sweet accord; 
The preacher thundered from his perch 

Beneath the booming sounding board, 
His accents rolling through the church 

"While deacons drowsed and Sexton snored ; 
A bee came buzzing through the air 

Fresh from the fragrant clover field, 
A spider from his raftered lair 

Dropped to the desk and lay concealed. 



Through the wide windows opened high 

I saw the heaps of new-mown hay, 
The breezy woodland standing nigh, 

The brook, the river and the bay ; 
I heard the tinkle of the bell 

That showed old Bess was browsing near, 
The rapids rushing through the dell, 

The fractious poriy's plunge and rear; 
Still the slow sermon rumbled on 

Fierce Pharaoh dared the ruddy deep, 
Sweet manna Israel fed upon 

While weary I slipped off to sleep. 



\fW 72 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



I felt a sudden startling thrill, — 

I heard a strange bewild'ring noise, — 
I wondered were I dreaming still. — 

Where was the Parson's tireless voice?- 
How long I'd slept I could not tell, 

But Ah ! It had been many a year 
Since last the sound of that old bell 

Rang sweetly on my listening ear. — 
Alas! 'Twas but a mid-day dream. — 

How my old heart would jump for joy 
If but the life could lie the dream 

And I would wake to be a boy. 




! 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 73 



l£kty Jvloofe. 



I sit and dream beside thy stream, 

O fair Passaic River ; ( 

Like floating lace o'er beauty's face 

Thy dimpling wavelets quiver; 
Outspreading trees allure the breeze 

Along the sloping shore ; 
The lovely moon of leafy June 

Smiles sweetly as of yore. 



Thy silv'ry sheen, 'twixt banks of green, 

In light romantic flooded, 
Brightly displays thy winding ways 

By little vessels studded ; 
Pearls seem to skip as waters drip 

From many a passing oar, 
While tender strains and soft refrains 

Sound sweetly as of yore, 



s 
The ripples reach along thy beach \ 

Like happy, loving laughter, ) 

As waves give place in rapid race 

/ To waves that hurry after ; 

The twinkling lights on distant heights 

Toward starlight seem to soar, 

And rich perfume of flowery bloom 

\ Smells sweetly as of yore. ( 



74 



HOMESPUN VEESES. 



The dusky shades and silent glades 

That fringe thy hilly border, 
In depths below reflected show 

Fair Nature's lovely order; 
The planets blest where angels rest 

And Deity adore, 
In lambent light this quiet night 

Smile sweetly as of yore. 



I see the grace of form and face 

Of one the clover covers; 
When she was free I used to be 

A friend among her lovers; 
In some bright star from Earth afar 

Lives gentle Katy Moore, 
Whose voice I hear, serene and clear. 

Sing sweetly as of yore. 



'Tis many years since, 'mid our tears 

And yearning farewells spoken. 
She took her flight from pain and night 

To realms of joy unbroken ; 
On balmy gales her spirit saiis 

To Glory's golden shore; 
Thy limpid wave that lave- her grave 

Smiles sweetly as of yore. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 75 



Kitty V Wklk. 



'cross the bridge, along the ridge, 
And down the shady way, 
Young Kitty went when evening lent 

A blush to brazen day ; 
The pansies sweet to kiss her feet 

Peeped out among the grass, 
And crowding grain bent lower fain 
To touch her ere she'd pass. 



Wild vines in haste her waist embraced, - 

The corn leaves rustled low, 
Their bearded spears like grenadiers 

Saluting in a row ; 
Through orchard trees the gentle breeze 

Soft whispers to her brought, 
And orioles on bosky knolls 

Her kind approval sought. 



76 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



The woodland pool so clear and cool, 

By her fair presence blest, 
Amid its tide essayed to hide 

Her likeness in its breast; 
Each globule pleased with ardor seized 

Her picture on its face, 
And with his bride ran off to hide 

fn some sequestered place. 



A green alcove' beside the grove 
Fenced in by waving wheat, 

'Mid climbing Tinea and fragrant pines 

Contained a rustic scat ; 
She rested there till cool night air 

Came on the balmy breeze, 
And starry rays with twinkling gaze 

Peered slyly through the trees. 



And when the moon rose all too soon 

Disclosing sparkling dew, 
The longest road to her abode 

She slowly sauntered through: — 
I saw a shade of man and maid 

Before her footsteps thrown, 
And so I know she did not go 

That lonely way alone. 



^e ^Ikid of ]VIadi^or|. 



't Madison I met a maid 
With eyes of bonnie blue 
As lovely as a moonlit glade 

With water shining through ; 
Her glossy yellow hair lay smooth 

Above her forehead, fair 
As those celestial ones who soothe 
A saintly christian's prayer. 



Her form was neither full nor frail, 

But built with rounded grace, 
And tall enough to well avail 

For such a noble face ; 
Her winning smile new light revealed, 

Like winds o'er growing grain, 
Or sunshine on a clover field 

Still wet with recent rain. 



Her tender \ o\$e was soft and svveer 

As any purling rill, 
And musical as those that greet 

The daybreak o'er the hill ; 
Her dress was modest, plain and neat, 

And kept with kindly care, 
In every little detail meet 

To match her beauty rare. 



78 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



With innocent, impartial might, 

Impressing every eye 
Like stars upon a frosty night, 

Or mountains in July, 
Smiling she came, sedate she went. 

Nor did she long remain, 
Yet. pleasant tenderness she lent 

The people on the train. 



Oh! If I were a soldier brave, 

Renowned in glorious war; 
Or if I'd sailed the rolling wave 

O'er stormy seas afar; 
Or if 1 were a hunter bold 

With courage undismayed. 
I'd strive in wedlock s bonds to fold 

That bonnie blu< -vxvd maid. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 79 



Vlje I^^ieV f}an\Me. 



T've been to the woods where soft breezes blow, 
By the bubbling spring where the wild flower 
grow, 
Where the whispering leaves murmur mysteries low, 
And the birds softly sing 'mid the sunset glow, 
And there's languor in the air. 



I've been to the brook, in the curtain's shade 
That the modest wood of the gloom has made, 
Where the sun leaves a kiss, for the young moon 

made, ( 

On the smiling face of the stream in the glade, 
And the mossy banks are fair. 



I've been to the lake where the willow sips 
Fickle favors sweet from the wavelet's lips, 
Where the swallow oft in his mirror dips, 
And the dancing breeze o'er the surface skips, 
And rare sweetness lingers there. 



80 HOMESPUN VEKSES. 



I've been to the mead where the lillies bloom, 
And the crickets hide 'mid the bending broom, 
Where the humming bird flits away with her groom, 
And the May-bees drone, and the beetles boom, 
And the rabbit seeks his lair. 



I've been to the rock on the mountain side, 
That the sunlight gilds at the eventide 
While valleys green in the twilight hide, 
Where the kindling eye ranges far and wide 
Through the sheeny summer air. 



I've been to the tield where the mowers fleet 
Make their scythe-blades ring as their journeys meet. 
Where the clover dies with a fragrance sweet. 
And the long grass clings to the workmen's feet 
And the perfume is heavy there. 



I've been to the lane where the twin oak trees 
'Mid the wild vines stand, like a maid to her knees 
In the swaying grass: There the lover flees 
When the rising moon o'er the hill he sees; — 
And somebody met me there. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 81 ^» V 



^e titling Cofrj. 



'P here is a sound I love to hear, 
-*- Mysterious, sweet and low, 
When summer nights are calm and clear, 

And cooling breezes blow ; 
The rustling whisper 'tis that goes 
Among the cornfield's stately rows. 



Those rhythmic murmurings that fall 

Upon the quiet air, 
The joyous days of youth recall, 

Before the years of care ; 
And melancholy memory flies, 
To bring the past before my eyes. 



The gentle melody I hear \ 

Of voices fond and true, — 
I see the glances bright and dear ( 

From eyes of starry hue, — 
And almost feel the tender charm 
Of fingers resting on my arm. 



82 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Iu this fair world we meet and part 

Like corn-leaves in a breeze ; 
The friends that filled my youthful heart 

Have flown as night-wind flees, 
The dearest one long since went home 
Beyond the realms whence breezes come. 



The corn is buried year by year 
Beneath the upturned ground, 

And every year the grain is here 
In fruitful beauty found; 

So in a field of rustling corn 

I see the resurrection morn. 




& 



tV I<ojft £tkf. 



brilliant planet gleamed on high 
Throughout the silent night, 
The brightest star of all the sky 

In chaste and lovely light, 
And beamed upon the edge of day 
Almost till noontide's fiercest ray. 



She moved upon her stately way 

Around the central sun, 
Through groups of stars her orbit lay 

But never touched she one ; 
"While satellites, with her in view, 
Went circling through eternal blue. 



At midnight, in a wooded dell 

Still as a falling flake, 
The radiance of that planet fell 

Upon a limpid lake, 
A nd through its crystal bosom shone 
Down to its heart of solid stone. 



K 



84 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Reflected iu the pearly deep, 
Un vexed by breeze or foam, 

I saw a blazing comet sweep 
Athwart the studded dome; 

That queenly star leaped from her place 

And lost herself in his embrace. 

A moment and the lonely lake 

Sparkled with stellar light, 
Like that which marks a vessel's wake 

At sea,— amid the night, — 
And then the shade that filled the wood 
Engirt the water where T stood. 



I looked up from the forest, dim, — 
The comet still sped on, — 

My planet's place was dark and grim, 
The satellites were gone; 

Searching the sky, — I saw afar, 

The flicker of a falling star. 




HOMESPUN VERSES. . 85 



® 0ei<eitkde. 



'P lie harvest moon shines brightly, 

The corn leaves rustle slightly, 
The pleasant breeze blows lightly 

O'er forests, fields and flowers; > 

The brimming lake lies gleaming, , 

Its glossy surface beaming, 
A crystal jewel seeming 

Amid the Avoodland bowers. 

The universe is sleeping, ) 

No jealous eye is peeping, 
And I my tryst am keeping 

Beside the cedar thicket ; 
My boat waits where the willow 
Droops to the gentle billow, 
Then darling leave your pillow 

And ope your lattice wicket. 



Then yield to my entreating, 
And glad will be our meeting, 
For time and tide are fleeting 

Although they run forever ; 
Then floating like a feather / 

Borne through this balmy weather, 
We'll sail away together 

And love each other ever. 



86 HOMESPUN VEESES. 



$oine Oi)e. 



,+<obolink, by river-brim. 



-*-* Sweetly sing, 

While the fickle swallows skim, 

Fleet of wing; 
Warble, with impetuous vim, 
Ere the day grows dusk and grim, 
s And through thorny thickets dim,- 

Bobolink, — 
Sad responses to your hymn, 
From some fallen forest-limb, 
In the twilight seem to swim, 

Bobolink, 

I 



As the Whippoorwill's refrain, 
Resonant with pensive pain, 
Does most plaintively complain, 

Bobolink, 
Breathing of some secret sight, 
Far to drear to bear the light, 
Sounding, therefore, knell at night, 

Bobolink. 



Whistle, Robin, in the wood, 

Gushingly, 
Ere you fly afar for food, 

Rushingly, 



4- 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 87 



Whistle to your mate and brood, 
Till the quail, in quibbling mood 
Answers with his burlesque rude, 

Robin, 
Captiously his notes intrude, 
With his self-conceit imbued, 
Queerly- voiced and serely hued, 

Robin, — 
Where your leaping strains rebound 
Harsh and rough his pipings sound 
Startling all the air around, 

Robin, — ; 

Yet his faithful flock can see 
In his barren mockery 
Only merry melody, 

Robin. 

I 

Oriole, on orchard tree, 

Trill and troll, 
Let your carols, ringing free, 

Shrilly roll, 
Rattle on mellifluously, 
Jubilant, and joyously, 
Even most vociferously 

Try to crow, 
Till an imp, imperiously, 

Cawing most mysteriously, 

) 

S 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Sounding very seriously 

Like a Crow, 
In a marring monotone 
Like some dark, accursed crone, 
Squawks his solo — all alone — 

Tis a Crow,— 
And. Behold you! Oriole, 
As those croaks discordant roll, 
Such is music, to the soul 

Of a Crow. 



All the birds of earth and air 

Quickly hush, 
As the sounds of singing rare 

Thickly rush 
From the arlior on the hill; — 
From the maiden of the mill 
Wells such songs as beak or bill 

Never made, 
And the birds sit mule and still 
While the Beauty's ballads fill 
List'niog space with tones that thrill 

Every glade; 
BirdlingS, well may ye rejoice 
In the splendor of her voice, 
Sure, were tones than hers more choice, 

Never made ; 
Should you hap, by charming chance, 
In the glory of her glance, 
Then you'd feel the brightest trance 

Ever made. 



>%& 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



When the sun sets in a glow, 

Royally, 
And the modest moon peeps low, 

Loyally; 



\ As the evening zephyrs blow, 

Then that lassie's sonnets grow 
Tender-toned and gently low, 

For Some One; — 
While the leaflets whisper so 
Sibilantly to and fro, 
Sure that all the world shall know 

Of Some One, 
Then the Katydids begin, 
And the Crickets all join in, 
Telling tales in direful din 

Of Some One, — 
As I leave my prostrate plough 
Some One waits 'neath apple bough, 
Blushes blooming on her brow — 

For Some One. 



90 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



©aybfekk oi) tl\e $ea£l\ore. 

^ Mms night, but almost day, 

Alone I stand between the silent land 
And the outspreading sea. All breathing things 
Are wrapped in slumber's mystery, save me; 
Above me hangs the murky sky of night 
Which looms in heavy masses scarce relieved 
By the soft brilliance of the few pale stars 
That see their own reflection in the passive sea 
And coyly then retreat behind the veil. 
As pensively I turn about and look 
At God's majestic works on every side. 
While standing on the beach, a living speck 
Surrounded by a vast infinity of space. 
1 feel the puny littleness of man. 
And as I ponder, to me conies the thought. 
That this great planet which we call our own 
(Because we're rooted to it like the grass) 
Compared to all the universe about, 
Is but a moistened pebble spinning on 
Its circling journey 'round our little sun. 
Which is itself nought but a glowing spark 
Amid a system of revolving worlds. 
As thus I meditate the morning breeze 
Sluggish and chill shakes down the heavy dew 
From trees and bending grass, the whisp'ringsea 
Sends little billows gently rippling up 
The sloping smoothness of the sandy beach. 
And presently the ocean's breath comes in — 
Not ruggedly and bold as is its wont 

Jfc. . M 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 91 NJT ) 

) 



Vexing the waters with its boisterous play I 

And dripping with a load of salty spray, — 

But gently skipping like a waking smile ) 

Across the surface of old Neptune's face. > 

The circle of my vision grows apace \ 

And all the clouds above begin to move, 

And then the dusky rim that marks the spot \ 

Where clouds and billows met in unison 

Is lifted up, and from the distant sea 

A glowing mass of rainbow tints upshoots 

Close followed by a spreading wave of red 

That lights the gray horizon like a fire, 

And then the redly beaming sun appears — 

Dimmed by its ocean bath to such a hue 

That human eyes can look upon it's face 

And note its ruddy amplitude of size 

Before it starts upon its daily race 

Toward the purple zenith of the sky. 

A full rigged ship, with all her canvas set, 

Deep-laden with the fruits of foreign climes, 

Sails slowly on between me and the orb 

And for a moment stands in radiant lines 

Drawn darkly on the surface of the sun. 

The sullen clouds retreating slowly hie, 

And on the towering ramparts of the western 

hills 
Extend their lines and form their stubborn 

ranks 
To make a final struggle for their sway 
Of darkness over earth. The daylight spreads, 
The restless sea-birds come in populous flocks 



b 



92 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



\ 

\ 

s 

x I know not whence, and skim in circling 

| flights 

\ That know nor pause nor rest. The land- 

j birds too 

\ Awake and sing amid the orchard trees, 

) And in the hidden thickets of the woods 

\ Where flowers grow beside the silent pools 

n And bubbles sparkle on the running brooks. 

) I look again upon the sky, and see 

\ That clouds and stars alike are gone away 

And all the heavens glow with morning light; 
I cast my sight upon the land again 
And see the world's in motion everywhere, 
All life's awake, and men with bustling noise 
Begin the business of another day. 



-*^3^&*— 



4> 



¥ 



he setting sun his redness hides 



- 1 - Behind a mantle of dark cloud, 
Whose boding blackness drapes and rides 

Across the sky in thunder loud; 
And lightnings fierce in vain essay 

To rend the vail that dims the light, 
As slowly sinks the dying day 

Into the chilling arms of night. 

The evening shadows, weeping, trail 

Along the dusty path of day, 
A throbbing stillness fills the vale, 

And gathering gloom o'erspreads the bay 
Nor sharply pipe the clustering quail. 



Nor sounds the distant watch-dog's bay, > 

Nor strutting cocks their rivals hail, K 

Nor sparrows fight along the way. 

The cowering cattle huddle, dumb, 

The farm yard's noisy mob is still ; \ 

Hushed is the bee-hive's busy hum, ) 

Hushed is the clatter of the mill; \ 

The anxious mower hastens home ) 

Beside the heavy-laden wain, ) 

Far down the bay the fishers come • 

With listless sails, a straggling train. 

The dull gray beach is lone and bare, 

Save where a maiden crouches low, 
Blue flowers droop 'mid her black hair; 

With parted lips and shaded brow, 
She gazes o'er the darkening bay, 

While lowering clouds the waters meet, 
And watches in the gloaming gray 

Her lover's coming-home to greet. 



94 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



m 



She makes no motion, all her soul. 

Life, spirit, being's in her eyes, 
The crested billows higher roll, 

The chilling wind now shrieks, now sighf 
The rain comes hissing through the wood. 

And pattering on the dusty road, 
The seething water's angry mood 

To wilder wrath its beatings goad. 

An awful shadow vails the land 

And settles o'er the sounding sea. 
Fierce booming surges lash the strand. 

And crashing thunder shakes the lea; 
But with the last faint ray of light 

The maiden feels a ray of hope, 
For dauntlessly in death's despite 

She sees the struggling fishers cope. 

The morning breaks, 'mid songs of birds, 

O'er glistening grass and smiling hay. 
While chattering flocks and lowing herds 

With gladness hail the gleam of day; 
And all the fishing smacks are in, 

Save one that foundered in the gale — 
Bravely she strove the goal to win, 

Alas! She only strove — to fail. 

Two bodies lie upon the beach, 
Sad relies of the brave and fair. 

The hungry waves their garments reach. 
And rippling waters lap their hair; 

Moaning the while a plaintive dirge 

For her who watched and him who strove. 

Who're joined, in spite of storm or surge — 
( Their bodies here, their souls above. 



$ 



^e JVIour)tkii|eei t V Son\e by 
]Vlooi\li^t. 




95 



glen, high on the mountain side, 

Shut in by towering crags and pines ; 
A spring, whose ever-welling tide 

O'erflows, and sparkles past the vines. 
From fleecy clouds a moonlight gleam 

That seeks an open cottage door, 
And lures a child to grasp its beam, 
Or trace strange sketches on the floor. 



Within, the grimy kettle steams 

Upon the fire, whose fitful light 
Flashes and leaps, in glancing gleams, 

O'er snowy walls, and mirror bright, 
And prints in gauzy pink attire, 

And table spread with cheery care, 
And Tabby dozing by the fire, 

And grandame nodding in her chair. 



Without, a matron young and fair, 

In dress of spotless white arrayed, 
A red rose in her jetty hair, 

While, 'twixt the moonlight and the shade, 
She stands in questioning dismay — 

With outspread hand she shades her eyes, 
And gazes wistfully away 

To where the pebbly pathway lies. 



96 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Beyond, the mountain slopes away 

From farther side of tree-lined path. 
The plunging streamlet dashes spray 

From rock to rock in foaming wrath ; 
Far in the valley's deepest dale 

The glistening river smoothly glides, 
And near it, nestling in the vale, 

The village chapel dimly hides. 

And close at hand, in playful mood; 

'Mid the dark shadow of the crags, 
And peering through the gloomy wood, 

The tardy husband slyly lags. 
Waiting, until, with clouded face. 

His wife shall turn her lingering eves, 
Then, seizing her in fond embrace, 

He'll please her with a glad surprise. 




tifflfflBfflli 



J& 



„..., „ * 



Cof&fcelle. 



T' 



k here's a dimple in your cheek, 
And I'm sure that dimples speak, 
Corabelle ; 
For the smiles that thither dart 
Kiss the blushes from your heart, 
When we meet by chance apart 

Corabelle ; 
And the smiles and blushes start, 
Corabelle. 

There's a sparkle in your eye, 
Like the starlight in the sky, 

Corabelle ; 
Oh ! A tender tale it tells 
When your glance upon me dwells, 
And my throbbing bosom swells, 

Corabelle ; 
As I think of wedding bells, 

Corabelle. 

There's a cadence iu your voice, 
At its music I rejoice, 

Corabelle ; 
Though to all beside unknown, 
Yet the message in its tone 
Murmurs love for me alone, 

Corabelle ; 
Like a song o'er waters blown, 

Corabelle. 



98 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



% 



There's a pressure of your hand 
That my spirit doth command, 

Corabelle; 
As its gentle touches nil 
All my soul with some strange thrill 
Then the time I foresee still, — 

Corabelle; 
When the bride shall say, "I will." 

Corabelle. 

Glances, blushes, dimples, smiles. 
Greetings, murmurs, — all are wiles, 

Corabelle; 
Darling, hear my fond address, 
While a question bold I press, 
AY hat it is you surely guess, 

Corabelle; 
So then prithee whisper, — " Yes," — 

Corabelle. 



m „ _ « 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 99 

) 



¥\\q G[lean\ii)g G^ene^ee. 



/j limpid, rapid river, ( 

^ O, gleaming Genesee, S 

What mystery could ever c 

Make imagery of thee; > 

How fair thy changeful courses, < } 

Rough, rolling, or at rest, ) 

From silvery sylvan sources c 

To broad Ontario's breast. / 

Thy waterfalls flash brightly 

When magic moonlight rules, 
And shadows slumber lightly / 

On thy pellucid pools ; 
Thy mellow deeps are sleeping 

On all thy marshy coves, 
And startled fish, upleaping, ) 

Arouse thy gloomy groves. 

How fancifully foaming 

Thy fretted rapids run \ 

Where brilliant bubbles, roaming, 

Bloom briefly in the sun ; ( 

Thy murmuring runlets hurry ) 

Through devious eddying whirls, ( 

Thy purling shallows skurry ) 

'Mid vivid liquid pearls. 

How gleam, thy brimming reaches 

Between their rocky bonds, 
How smooth the green-rimmed beaches 

That belt thy placid ponds ; 
Thy spreading waters ripple 

Amid the widening hills, 
While sunbeams' shimmering stipple 

With light the lakelet fills. 



100 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



m 



Thy rushing torrents tumble 

To yawning depths profound, 
While rolling thunders rumble 

O'er all the quaking ground; — 
As soaring souls assemble 

O'er battles awful roar, 
So misty rainbows tremble 

Thy seething cauldrons o'er. 

How glints the glorious beaming- 

When clustering crystals teem- 
Of sunlight's shifting gleaming 

On thy prismatic stream; 
How thy tormented current 

Careers through vails of spray, 
From vexing falls recurrent 

Eager to glide away. 

If one once sip thy sweetness 

Thenceforth he feels thy spell, 
His life will lack completeness 

Till here he comes to dwell; 
And though he roam, demented. 

Afar o'er foreign sea. 
He'll only die contented 

Beside the Genesee. 

I've drank thy 'witching water 

Delicious Genesee; 
I've looked upon a daughter 

Of those who dwell by thee; 
Oh! How my heartstrings quiver 

With love for her, and thee 
O, limpid, rapid river 

O, gleaming Genesee. 



#J 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 101 ^*< 

. ) 



<$ I<kn\ei\t. 

"y'e flow'ry fields of Genesee, 
-■" How can ye bloom so brightly ; 
The honest man who dwelt with ye, 

Whose heart was pure and knightly, 
Comrade in war and friend in peace, 

Untiring, true and brave, 
In sturdy health met quick decease 

And slumbers in the grave. 



Ye knolls and slopes of Genesee, 

How can ye smile so fairly, 
The baby Heaven lent to me. 

That seemed to thrive so rarely ; 
Lies low beneath your blooming sod 

Where whisp'ring trees complain ; 
But Oh ! We gave her back to God 

With bitterness and pain. 



Oh ! Lovely vale of Genesee, 

More beautiful than ever, 
Such cords as bind my heart to thee 

Are ties that never sever ; 
Some consolation sweet I feel 

From all the scenes I see, 
The Gates of Gold will views reveal 

Like those of Genesee. 



j& M 



102 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



$ej)ten\'bei < $weet$. 

O lowly sank the sun to rest 
A- 'Mid the blushes of the West ; 
Sailed the placid moon through space, 
Shone the flowing river's face. 

Fragrant came the evening breeze 
Through the peach and apple trees ; 
Whispering zephyrs, too, were born 
'Mongst the rustling ranks of corn. 

Homeward hied the lowing herds, 
Seldom clacked the barn-yard birds, 
Far off bayed the uneasy hound, 
And from far came answering sound. 

Whistling shrill the mowers came, 
Sang the farmer's busy dame, 
Ceased the mill-wheels creaking noise. 
Romped the miller's merry boys. 

Ranged the swallows on a rail, 
In the stubble piped the quail, 
Weirdly whistled whip-poor-will. 
Bobolink had ceased to trill. 

Locusts crooned their dismal strain. 
Cheery crickets chirped amain, 
And, among the melons hid, 
" Katy didn't— Katy did." 

From the river to the road, 
O'er the hill and through the wood, 
And adown the dale again, 
Wound a berry-bordered lane. 



m 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 103 



Walnut, birch, and sassafras, 
Willows drooping to the grass, 
Oaks, and maples lined the way, 
Making twilight at 'mid-day. 

Down this dusky lane I strayed, 
With me walked a winsome maid, 
None but she and I were near, 
Yet I whispered in her ear. 

Said she Yea? — Or said she Nay? — 
Little critics could but say, 
'Neath the elder branches hid, — 
11 Katy didn't!— Katy did! " 

Sure that I'd not heard amiss, 
From the miss I took a kiss 
Coyly given : — Aghast, some sprite 
Shrilly screamed, — "Bob White, — Bob 
White!"— 

True and tender, fond and fair, 
Faithful she through grief and care, 
Winsome, witty, full of glee, 
Wonder 'tis she loveth me. 

Cruel fate may bid us part, ( 

But for aye within my heart, ) 

Be she far, or be she near, 
'Tis September all the year. 

Sweet this month in lanes to rove, 
Sweetest month of peace and love, 
Foretaste of a heaven where 
'Tis September all the year. 



104 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Wkitir^ f<rf Willie. 

Wy cottage on a headland stands, close clasped by 
-*--*- clinging vines; 

About it grow sweet violets and sadly moaning pines, 
And near it, murmuring ceaselessly its tales of grief 

and death, 
The ocean wave drones forth a dirge for bleaching 

bones beneath. 



A maiden at the window sits, beneath the flickering 

shade 
Of vine-leaves coyly trying the caresses to evade, 
With which the lavish summer winds salute them as 

they flee 
To waste their stolen sweetness on the bosom of the 

sea. 



The sunshine, sifted through the leaves, toys with 

her rippling hair, 
And wanders o'er her dainty cheek, and neck so pure 

and fair; 
A soft, sweet smile is on her lips, a love-light in her 

eye, 
As she deftly meshes laces for her wedding finery. 

And ever and anon she looks far o'er the sparkling 

sea, 
And scans each stately vessel as it nears the fragrant 

lea, 



*j 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 105 



And softly thus she carols: "What a happy bride 

I'll be 
When darling, dark-eyed Willie comes from sailing 

o'er the sea. 

The weary seasons came and went to join those gone 

before, 
But dark -eyed Willie's stately ship was never heard 

of more ; 
Upon her homeward course she sailed, but home she 

ne'er has come, 
No vestige of her e'er was seen — none came to tell 

her doom. 

The pines about the little cot lie prone upon the 

moor, 
No clinging vines surmount the eaves, no flowers 

surround the door, 
Where violets grew the heath is bare, the wind 

sweeps angrily, 
And solemn sounds the booming of the ever-restless 

sea. 

) Beside the window still she sits, 'mid shadows dark 

\ and grim, 

Her brown hair thickly strewn with gray, her spark- 
/ ling eyes grown dim, 

The bloom is gone from off her cheek, the gladness 

from her brow, 
No love-smile wreaths her pallid lips, no sunshine 
gilds them now. 



106 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



m 



Inert and still her hands are clasped, her lace lies on 
the floor, 

Her glance the foaming waters restlessly wanders o'er, 

And she whispers slow and sadly: " His ship I can- 
not see — 

I'm weary with long waiting for my love to come 
to me." 

"Ah, Willie dear is good and true, he'll soon come 

back, I know, 
For tender prayers go up for him from fond hearts 

here below," 
Again she softly murmurs: "What a happy bride 

I'll be, 
When darling, dark-eyed Willie comes from sailing 

o'er the sea." 




*; 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 107 



8 TfiWte to 8dolpl*u£ P. Young. 

(Bead at the Meeting of the Bar.) 

^V lay after day men pass away, 
-^ Returning hither never; 
The busy strife of bustling life 

Goes briskly on forever; 
Drops in a stream the people seem 

A multitude, yet one ; 
The drops flow by as moments fly, 

The stream will always run. 



Good men are rare, we ill can spare 

A man brave, just and gentle, 
Hopeful and kind, of modest mind, 

And solid powers mental ; 
One such we knew who daily grew 

Continually more dear; 
Truly to-day we sadly lay 

Our wreaths upon his bier. 



Sorrow might own our tongue alone, 

'Tis full of mournful phrases ; 
Yet few and brief are words of grief 

When sudden woe amazes ; 
Though fond hearts ache and almost break 

For him whose breath has fled, 
Language is weak our thoughts to speak, 

We simply say — "He's dead." 



108 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



How vain it is at times like this 

To whisper consolation ; 
The eye that peers through falling tears 

Seeks no bright elevation ; 
The silent tomb in sombre gloom 

Restricts our vision's scope, 
Yet through that bourne he whom we mourn 

Went with a Christian's hope. 



Then gently lay his form away 

Beneath the dewy clover; 
The soul that there, Life's trials bare, 

Has left its crumbling cover 
And soared apace through sky and space 

Willi progress swift and sure, 
To find sweet rest 'mid Heaven's best, — 

The upright, true and pure. 




109 



Kitty King. ' 

M^he flowers were -smiling sweetly through spark 

ling tears of dew, 
To greet the newly-risen sun, peeping o'er hill tops 

blue, 
The purling brook was murmuring soft to rose-leaves 

on its breast, 
And twittering birds 'mid whispering leaves, their 

tales of love conf est ; 
The drooping willow stooped to kiss the pebbles in 

the brook, 
The pretty sunfish coquetted in many a quiet nook, 
And all about was peaceful, upon that happy day 
When pretty Kitty King and I went walking through 

the hay. 



I twined wild roses as we sat beneath the chestnut 
tree, 

And wove them in her sunny hair — 'twas passing- 
fair to see ; 

To tell which were the lovelier, I did not need com- 
pare, 

The velvet roses on her cheeks outshone those in 
her hair ; 

Her blue eyes smiled a veto on the bantering of her 
lips, 

And when she took my hand to rise, I kissed her 
finger-tips, 

She did not chide my forwardness, upon that happy 
day 

When pretty Kitty King and I went walking through 
the hay. 



110 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



With quick resolve, in trembling haste, fearing my 

strength would flee, 
I tried to tell her that her love was all the world to 

me, 
The words fell o'er each other fast, or would not 

come at call, 
But still with mingled fear and hope, I somehow 

told her all. 
Her blue eyes hid neath long-fringed lids, her soft 

hand stayed in mine, 
And, like the rustling of a leaf, she whispered: 

"Love, I'm thine; " 
With arms entwined, we sauntered on, upon that 

happy day 
When pretty Kitty King and I went walking through 

the hay. 



But, woe is me! My darling one ne'er wore her wed- 
ding ring; 
The other angels lonely were and came for Kitty 

King: 
She went away, to wait for me 'mid pastures rich 

and rare, 
And when a few more days are past, I'll gladly meet 

her there. 
Beneath the spreading chestnut tree a grassy mound 

appears, 
Surrounded by wild roses, which oft are wet with 

tears, 
I sadly sit there, musing upon that happy day 
When pretty Kitty King and I went walking through 

the hay. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Ill 



$weetlieaft ^kfewell. 

CJweetheart, Farewell, the winds that blow 
r-' Straight from the gates of sunset hither, 
Salute us as they eastward go 

Hasting to greet the sunrise thither ; 
In gale or murmur they proclaim — 

And oft repeat our whispers tender, 
And cast our sparkle in the flame 

That makes the sunlight's golden splendor. 



Sweetheart, Farewell, The stars above — 

Those silent sentinels of heaven — 
Transmit our sacred vows of love 

And fervent parting kisses given ; 
And signaled down the twinkling line 

The sweet report serenely flashes, 
Till on the books of Love Divine 

'Tis marked in flowing dots and dashes, 




Sweetheart, Farewell, The clouds of war 

Loom darkly o'er the Southern border, 
Their thunders set the land ajar, 

And shake the roots of public order; — 
The bugle calls, — the stirring drum 

Sounds the long roll in every borough, — 
The workman leaves his workshop's hum,- 

The thrifty farmer leaves his furrow. 




Sweetheart, Farewell, I too must fight 

Beneath our gleaming starry banner, 
Where volunteers stand up for right, 

After the yeoman's ancient manner; — 
Dear Girl, Good-by, If I return 

I'll love you fondly then and ever, 
But if I fall, — Nay do not turn. — 

I'll love you ever and forever. 

Sweetheart, Farewell, One last embrace, 

One long, low, tender kiss of parting; — 
The tramping column nears this place, 

And ere they pass I must be starting; 
Darling, I love you best of all, — 

How noisily those boys arc drumming, — 
I'll ne'er forget,— My comrades call,— 

Sweetheart, Farewell : — Yes, I am coming. 



¥*&& 
&? 



^^ 



w 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 113 



$oldierV $orjg. — Ylje Volunteer. 

\A7~hen Columbia calls all her men-at-arms, 

* * And the summons falls on the fields and farms, 
When our own free flag to the breeze we fling. 
And from dell to crag bugle echoes ring, 
When the drum's sharp roil stirs the quiet air, 
And the greenwood knoll hears the trumpet's blare, 
Then the bosom burns fuil of valiant cheer 
As the voter turns to a Volunteer. 

CHORUS. 

Then Hurrah and Hurrah for our land and our laws, 
And again Hurrah for our colors and our cause, 
With our foe's we'll fight, with our friends we'll cheer, 
With the lusty might of the Volunteer. 

When we fly our flags from the topmast head, 
And our anchor drags on the river bed, 
When the salt sea smell blows across the rail, 
And our white sails swell with the rising gale, 
Or when choking smoke hides the sea and sky. 
As at broadside's stroke blood and splinters fly, 
Then the heart beats true knowing naught of fear, 
'Neath the Navy Blue of the Volunteer. 

When fair Freedom asks for her stalwart sons, 
Down go daily tasks, up go swords and guns, 
Far from mortal ken, on some dusty ledge, 
Fly the rapid pen and the sounding sledge, 
And the columns gleam full of men of mark, 
As the soldiers stream through the city park, 
'Tis a stirring sight fit for saint or seer, 
As to fight for right goes the Volunteer. 



114 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



When our long lines go o'er the battlefield, 
And the stubborn foe learns to die or yield. 
Right and might prevail over banded wrong, 
And our stars we hail as we stride along, 
And we'll never flag till we win or die, 
While a hostile rag flaunts against the sky, 
When our own dear soil has no foe to fear, 
Home to peaceful toil speeds the Volunteer. 




& 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



115 



^e Je^ey 8lue£ 



^-Xear the sharp summons on startled winds sound- 

•" tog,- 

' ' Fall in, brave freemen, in battle array, 
Rally your regiments their free flags surrounding, 

For the friends of the past are the foes of to-day; " 
Come from the mountains and come from the ocean, 

Come from the forests and come from the farms ; 
East Jersey, — West Jersey, — all in commotion 

Ardently answer the order — " To Arms." 



Cheer for Columbia, Home of the freemen, 
Cheer for her colors, her sky-given hues, 

Sing for her soldiers, and shout for her seamen, 
And cheer once again for her brave Jersey Blues. 



At the first blast of the bugles shrill blaring 

See the men swarming from workshops and mines, 
Quick at the sight of the starry flag's flaring 

How they stream out from the orchards and pines, 
Everywhere fleeting to join in the meeting 

Kinsmen and strangers touch elbows to-day, 
Distant drams beating and bugles repeating, 

Spread the alarm, then be up and away. 
Cheer for Columbia, &c. 



116 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Like the blue clouds ou our blue mountains meeting, 

Like the blue billows that beat on our shore, 
So North and South Jersey yeomen give greeting 

Gathering now, as they gathered of yore; 
Rally then, comrades, where blue banners tremble 

Loyally twined with the stripes and the stars, 
As swift torrents cluster so freemen assemble 

When the brave Jersey Blues haste to the wars. 
Cheer for Columbia. Are. 



Hark to the music on merry winds streaming, 

How the scene glitters with arms in array. 
See the flags nutter in brilliancy beaming, 

See the brave Jersey Blues marching away; 
From the soil springing like blue grass and clover. 

After the shower has swept o'er the lea; — 
Homeward they'll hasten when fighting is over. 

Like the glad rain sinking into the sea. 
Cheer for Columbia, &e. 




HOMESPUN VERSES. 117 



Skttle Syn\n. 



O tay not thy hand, O, Master, stay not thy mighty 
P ' hand, 

But bring to fell disaster the foemen of our land, 
Make naught of subtle cunning, and naught of war. 

like skill, 
And set their cohorts running like waters down a 

hill. } 

■ 
The blue upon our banner was borrowed from on 

high, 
Be-spangled in such manner as stars bestrew the sky, 
The white stripes stand asunder 'twixt barriers red 

and warm, 
As lightning precedes thunder and sunshine follows 

storm. ) 

Amid the conflict's lightning our standard floats 

serene, 
As stars beyond the lightning beam softly o'er the 

scene ; 
When rifle bullets rattle and cannons loudly roar, 
Amid the storm of battle our eagles proudly soar. 

Our soldiers and our seamen proclaim the truth abroad 
That all mankind are Freemen and equal under God; 
Though bloodshed is lamented yet Freedom comes 

through wars, 
And heroes die contented beneath the stripes and 

stars. 
So when the struggle rages we'll carry in the van 
Adown the march of ages the battle flag of man, 
And where our colors flourish their dyes of heavenly 

hue 
Their influence shall nourish the brave, the pure' 

the true. 



118 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



T^e Vetefan^ f}eui\ioi). 

cEVom the bonny blue hills to the murmuring ocean, 
-*- From the bold palisades to the Delaware's shore. 
See the fighting men hasten, each comrade in motion. 

Speeding now as they sped in the dark days of yore: 
For their bugles are blaring, their old flags are flaring. 

Their eagles are bearing the red. white and blue; 
Their old drums are beating, their fifes are entreating, 

And calling to meeting each old Jersey Blue. 



See the veterans gather in crowds and in clusters, 



Mid the noises of cannon, bells, music and cheers; 
Each ancient corps' emblem its own party musters, 

And elbows now touch that were parted for years; 
For the long line is rilling with true men and willing. 

While the trumpets are thrilling all hearts with tl 
call. 
As the heroes are forming their ranks are all swarming 



With men who went storming o'er mountain and wall. 



All arms of the service are well represented, 

Every squadron and corps has its quota rilled, here. 
Horsemen, footmen, and seamen foregather, contented. 

And the sharpshooter smiles on the gruff cannoneer; 
A solid front keeping the Broad street they're sweeping, 

While plaudits go leaping along both their flanks; 
And the shouting, upwelling, a glad greeting telling, 

Sets the old ardor swelling each breast in the ranks. 



4 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 119 



True, they've no gaud}" glitter of trappings or armor, 

Nor rattling of sabres, nor rumbling of guns, 
For they conquered a peace, and their welcome's the 
warmer, 

And the Nation applauds her victorious sons ; 
So the cheers, ever coming, soon smother the drumming, 

'Till its rhythmical humming seems far, far away; 
While banners are swinging, and big bells are ringing, 

And fair hands are flinging bright wreaths o'er the way. 



For freemen will welcome fair Freedom's defenders, 
And shout for the men who saved Union and laws, 

To show the high homage each patriot tenders 
To the courage that clung to Columbia's cause ; — 

With statelinesss going, their steady tramp showing- 
How valor went glowing through war's fierce alarms, - 

How lofty their bearing, these men of high daring; 
They've no need of wearing equipments or arms. 



Then welcome the living with proud approbation ; 

Worthy, they, of all honor from freemen, for aye. 
But forget not the fallen who died for the nation, 

And were mustered out here — to assemble on High, 
They rest without dreaming, for, everywhere streaming, 

Its gay colors gleaming on each distant grave, 
Wherever they're lying, there, foemen defying, 

Their own flag is ftying — " Oh! Long may it wave ! ' 



^7K 



120 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



<$i)i\iver£ary of tl\c -Battle of Trei|toi). 

C^ tirring news thrilled our young nation, 
r~) Nine and ninety years to-day, 
From James Oglethorpe's plantation 

Clear to Massachusetts Hay, 
And the preachers praised God's mercy, 

While the people cheered men's might, 
When the tidings spread from Jersey 

Of a great victorious fight, 
And the list'ners lips would quiver. 

When they heard the simple talc 
Of the crossing of yon river 

In the driving rain and had, 
'Mid the ice-floes fiercely rushing, 



Then the bullets' rousing rattle 
Kinging on the foemen's cars. 

) 



Down the dark and rapid tide, 
And the midnight tempest hushing 

Every other sound beside: 
Of the morning dull and dreary, 

And the march through freezing slush, 
Till the wiriest men grew weary, 

Waiting for the final rush: 
Of their patient, onward plodding. 

Like a moving mass of ice, 
Nought but powder horn and wadding 

Fit for service in a trice, 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 12 L 



And the brief and brilliant battle, 

Winding up 'mid Patriot cheers, 
As glad Trenton town they waken ) 

To rejoice o'er their foray, 
With a thousand Hessians taken, J* 

And the others— run away. \ 

Ah! The dutiful endurance 

Of that bold and dauntless band, 
Sent a glow of re-assurance \ 

Through their sparsely-settled land; 
Aud as faster spread the story, 

How they thrashed the hireling host, 
It became a common glory 

From the mountains to the coast ; 
And the men who in that hour 

Whipped the troops from *' over sea," 
Housed a zeal that grew in power, ) 

Till America was free. ( 

And that banner famed in story — 

Standard of earth's proudest State, 
Is a legacy of glory / 

From the day we celebrate. 
So to-night, in emulation , 

Of those patriotic men, ( 

Let old Jersey tell the nation 

We are brethren once again, 
Brethren now and brethren ever, 

Brethren with an ancient fame, ( 

Brethren henceforth and forever, 

Brethren both in fact and name. ( 



■it 



122 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



8 f}l)yii\e for tl)c 5{cni|ion cf tl)e 
$edoqd f}egjin)eqt }!. J. Yol$. 

Tn ancient times, when wizards throve, 

And witches wrought confusion; 
When goblins haunted glen and grove. 

And ghosts rose in profusion; 
When pigmies peopled fell and dale. 

And giants held each mountain: 
When imps infested wood and vale. 

And fairies every fountain; 
When men were harried right and left, 

From mountain peak to dingle— 
Of every snug retreat bereft, 

Nor safe by blazing ingle. 
Their substance drained on every band. 

In forest, field and flagon; 
And when, to rake the wretched land, 

The devil sent a dragon, — 
Ah! Then arose the Red Cross Knight — 

King of that anxious hour — 
And hurried forth to find and tight 

The fiend in all his power; 
The deadly demon downward flew, 

Emitting bowlings fearful. 
The sturdy knight stood staunch and true. 

Dauntless, serene and cheerful ; 
And though the battle lasted long, 

The soldier proved victorious. 



£ 



HOMESPUJST VERSES. 123 



( And ever since in speech and song 

j The Red Cross has been glorious. |> 

( In after years, when hooded hordes, 

And thronging turbaned legions j> 

Proclaimed the swarthy Sultans lords 

Of Syria's Holy Regions ; ^ 

The Ruby Cross then led the way, ^ 

With triumph iridescent, ; 

its liegemen driving far away 

The hateful heathen crescent ; 
Their swarming ranks, with courage keen, 

Pressed on in knightly fashion. , 

And flew their banners o'er the scene 

Of Christ's most painful passion ; ) 

Through centuries the tale is told 

In legend and in story, 
Of how the Red Cross gleamed of old, 

And held the field of glory. 
In modern days, of battle fields 

Made famous by hard fighting, 
Our own Potomac Army yields 

A record most exciting; 
And high upon that brilliant roll ) 

Of soldierly transactions, ( 

The Sixth Corps shows a stirring scroll ) 

Of fierce and furious actions; 
And fit to head that sturdy corps 

With honor and decision, ( 

And wear the Red Cross badge they bore — 
j Was aye the First Division. 

) And pride of all the First Brigade, j 



124 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Where e'er grim carnage beckoned. 
There tramped to death as on parade 

The gallant Jersey Second ; 
They marched and fought with manly wills. 

Nor thought the toil a burden, 
Serving with zeal beneath those Phils', 

Phil. Kearney and Phil. Sheridan. 
The}' saw the first Bull Run affair, 

And yeoman service rendered, 
And in the glory earned a share 

When Bobby Lee surrendered : 
The Chiekahominy campaign 

Of sickness and of slaughter — 
The battle on Manassas Plain 

Beyond the Bull Run water, — 
The rebel raid in Maryland — 

Its bloody termination; 
In all of these they took a hand, 

With fervent desperation; 
But for our grief for brave lives lost. 

With laughter we would quiver, 
To think how frequently they crossed 

The Rappahannock River. 
On Gettysburg's ensanguined ground, 

They fought with true devotion. 
And Mead's Mine Run diversion found 

These Jersey Blues in motion; 
Through trackless wilds of tree and vine, 

When Grant was a new— comer — 
They "fought it out upon that line" 

That lasted ail the Summer; 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 125 ^\ 



/ 






And when a swarm of rebel "vets" 

'Round Early made a rail}', 
<i With Sheridan to lead the sets 

They waltzed adown the valley ; 
To Petersburg again they came, 

And when Lee left his cover 
His last retreat a rout became, 

And then the war was over. 
And now these patriots reunite, 

To laugh at past privations — 
While telling tales of field and fight, 

They share each others rations ; 
'Tis true their line is not too long 

To gather at a table, 
'Tis but a remnant of the throng 

That wore the regiment's label; 
The way their roster's been curtailed 

Is told in many a story, 
A goodly guard has been detailed 

Beyond the Gates of Glory, 
And these men held their lives as dross, 

And peril-faced like strangers, 
For they, too, wore the old Red Cross, 

And dared war's deadliest dangers. 
Long be their furloughs here below, 

And may they be requited 
By seeing their dear country grow 

More and more re-united. 
And may these friends of fickle fate — 

These monuments of mercy — 
Meet many a year to celebrate 

The famous Second Jersey. 



126 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



^ 



Vete^i)V gong. 

LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY. 

cjj^or Liberty our fathers fouglit, 

-*- For Liberty they died; 

And when their arms had freedom wrought, 

They threw those arms aside. 
And gladly seeking toils of peace 
Made forests fall and farms increase. 



And proudly all their children ring 
With tones that thrill and words that ring, 
We know no Prince, we fear no King, 
But Liberty alone we sing. 

Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! 

Hurrah 1 Hurrah! Hurrah! 

Equality we boldly wrote. 

And set our banners high. 
And aristocracy we smote 

To brisket, hip and thigh. 
Our efforts made the last slave tree 
And gave him Law's Equality. 

CHORUS. 

And gladly all our people Bing, 
With tones that thrill and words that ring, 
We know no .Master, Prince, nor King, 
Equality of man we sing, 

Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! 

Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



127 



Fraternity must yet be won, 

God make us one right soon, 
While yet our journey's scarce begun 

Toward our Nation's noon, 
Then men shall sink place, race and creed, 
And loving tolerance succeed. 



And gaily shall our children sing. 
With tones that thrill and words that ring, 
We know no Prince, we fear no King- 
Mankind's Fraternity we sing. 

Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! 

Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Hurrah ! 




128 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Wi 



u Ju£t Tweqty Yekf£ $go." 

J 'P is twenty years ago to-day 

Since our old regiment marched away 
Witli gallant port, a brave array 

Of patriotic men. 
Whose drums and fifes made music gay 

That stirred the soul again; 
Indeed it was a splendid sight. 
The serried ranks of blue and white 

In martial order drawn, 
While swords and bay 'nets flashed and gleamed 
And in the midst our colors streamed, 

Bright as the morning's dawn; 
And as we proudly swept along, 
The people, in a compact throng. 
Cheered us with lusty shouts and strong 

All in a loyal glow; 
Truly it hardly seems as long 

As twenty years ago. 
If sweetheart, wife, or mother dear. 
Could scarce repress the starting tear. 
She bravely smiled while we were near, 

Nor wept till we'd passed by; 
Nor did the last man in our rear 

So much as hear a sigh. 
From house-top, window, porch and door. 






w 



s^k 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 129 



Our starry banner floated o'er 

The Union-loving town; 
And all the concourse seemed to plight 
Their faith to do whate'er they might 

To put rebellion down. 
And so we tramped away to save 
Our country from secession's grave; 
And four-score thousand more as brave 

Came after, from our State, 



On land, or stream, or ocean wave, 

To share the nation's fate. 
And our old Jersey Blue Brigade 
AVas first and foremost to invade 
Virginia's soil, when war was made, 

One sunny day in May ; 
Full soon the course we that day laid 

Became a broad highway; 
And many of our comrades there, 
Sleep 'mid the clover-blossoms, where 

Brave men in battle fell ; 
And still with every passing year, 
From time to time we sadly hear 

Some old file-leader's knell; 
But though our roster's dow but small 



With honest fervor we recall 



The corps that rose, a living wall, 

Against the rebel foe, 
And sped away at Lincoln's call 

Just twenty years ago. 



130 HOMESPUN VERSES. ^^ 

\ 



C!ei|tci|i|ikl I<iiie£. 



C\ Thou to whom a thousand years 
^ Are but as yesterday when past, 
Grant that our rounds of hundred years 
May run till all the starry spheres 
Upon thy palm are east. 



O Thou to whom our precious Karth 

Is but a pebble in the way, 
Grant that equality of birth, 
Linked with pre-eminence of worth, 
With us may ever Btay. 



May centuries, like gentle rain. 

Fall on Columbia's head. 
But may no future times complain 
Of woeful wars and human pain. 

As did the cycle fled. 



May human liberty extend 

As sunlight flies abroad. 

Till history in Love shall end. 

And all humanity shall blend 

In brotherhood with God. 



^ 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 131 ™% 



I<i:qe£ or) tl]e Dedication of tl^e Kearney 
Statue. 

'TMie lightning flashed amid the driving rain, — 
-*- The thunder rolled along the murky sky, — 
The bolts of Heaven sundered trees in twain, 

And whirlwinds tossed the ragged fragments high, — \ 

While rifles rang, and musket volleys crashed, 

And cannonading sounded on the ear. 
As columns charged, and squadrons forward dashed 

Upon the enemy with shout and cheer. 

Just at the closing of that dreadful da}' ) 

There came a calm, the sun shone through his tears, 
And d} T ing men in fancy went to pla} r 

Among the pleasures of their childhood's years; — 
Leading his men where he would have them go, 

Through the fierce storm of bullets, shot and shell, ) 

Tinged by the glory of the sunset glow, 

And nearest to the foe, — Phil. Kearne} r fell. 



The furious din of battle raged once more, 

The elements combined to swell the fray, 
Again the teeming drops began to pour, 

And deadly missiles sang upon their way ; 
But soon the day in darlmess disappeared, 

The thunder in the distance rumbled low, 
The contest ceased with moans and sighings weird, 

And gloomy night hid all the field below. 



132 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



^ 



His was the glory; Ours, Alas! the grief 

{ That from irreparable sorrow Mows, 

Of all the Union loss, 'twas fit the chief 
\ • Should mark that most disastrous summer's close. 

■ 

\ 
\ The infant of thai day is now a man. 



Though we so plainly recollect it all, 



To whom our words no memories recall 
Save tasks historic, such as children scan: 

Or mere traditions by a stranger told 

Beside his father's fire some winter night; 

Or marching songs now obsolete, or old; 
Or old time pictures seen by menial sight. 

Therefore 'tis well to plant his statue here, 

A monument to all who wore the blue, 
And manly model of the Volunteer, 

To foes undaunted and to comrades true; 
In all the dull routine of humdrum life 

A faithful citizen and gentle friend, 
Loving his land and hating civil strife, 

But standing by our banner to the end. 



; 

) With sad celerity the grievous tale 

Spread from the skirmish line and outer flanks, 
' Leaving a pang that made brave spirits quail 

Through all the old Red Patch Division's ranks; 
And fast the rumor flew, till all the land 

Knew that the one-armed hero was no more ; 
And loyal people mourned on every hand. 
As our young nation never mourned before. 

Surely he died as he would choose to die. 
In the full tide of a victorious fight, 

Where his command had made the rebels fly, 
And saved the army from defeat and flight ; 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 133 ^ 



The hives and haunts of men who work are thronged 

With quiet souls who vapor not, nor brag, 
But leave their labor when the country's wronged, 

And swarm to form the armies of our flag ; 
So in the future, as in days of yore, 

When drums shall roll and bugle-notes resound, 
Hither the local patriots shall pour, 

And legions muster on this hallowed ground. 



And as the short'ning years more swiftly fly, 

The last lone veteran wrinkled and old, 
With form erect, and proudly kindling eye, 

Will scan the image of the leader bold, 
And tell the stirring story of our days, 

When people proved the price the flag was worth, 
And envious Empires with astonished gaze 

Beheld the great uprising in the North. 



And when Fate's fell conscription is complete, 

And all this generation is laid low, 
On festal days the citizens will meet. 

And crowds will note this statue as they go ; 
As we revere the days of Seventy-Six, 

They will remember all our age has won, 
And say, — as on this bronze their wreaths they fix,- 

"Such were the mighty men of Sixty-One." 



>jW 134 HOMESPUN YERSES. 



8 f{ evolutionary Tale. 

"V\Then I was a boy I knew an old man 
' Whose age far outstretched the scriptural span, 

Who once waved a sword in Harry Lee's van, 
In the days when the colonies rose; 

This story he told, one wild winter night, 



By father's warm hearth, 'mid picturesque light, 



That the wood fire made, so cosy and bright, 
While we sat ranged in opposite rows. 



"In Revolutionary times. 

I fought fierce men from foreign climes 

And cursed Tory loons, 
< And saw hard service, night and day, 

In battle, ambush and foray, 
For Liberty and little pay. 

In Sheldon's bold Dragoons; 
And if your schools are any good, 

Their histories should show, 
That belter soldiers, since the Flood, 

Ne'er faced, or chased a foe. 

The roads that meet at Monislown 
Wind in and out and up and down 
\ O'er hills and valleys fair, 

And at the borough's central site, 
Upon a green and breezy height, 
Highways and by-ways all unite 

To form the village square; 
Before it, Inn and Court House stand, 

And there the prison looms ; 
Beside it, church and steeple grand 

Spring skyward from the tombs. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 135 



How Bonnel Moody— outlaw bold- 
Had drilled with us through all the cold, 

Upon a shambling hack; 
I promised if he'd bring the spy 

Before the provost guard, 
He should be sergeant, and not I, 

Forever afterward. 

The young man said he might be wrong, 
But yet he thought, ere very long, 

He'd make me eat my words ; 
He paid the footing score he owed, 
His willing horse he then bestrode, 
And started briskly down the road 

That goes by Colonel Ford's; 
I mocked his gauntlets, and pursuit, 

He answered to my jeer, — 
' ' But for these mittens, this recruit 

Would never have been here." 



Upon a dark and dreary day, 

When earth and sky were bleak and gray, 

And some few snow-flakes fell, j 

I drilled a squad upon that green, — 
A greener squad I've never seen, — 
And as the blast blew cold and keen ^ 

I exercised them well ; ; 

And when at last I set them free, — ( 

After two hours or more, — £ 

One bright young fellow followed me 

Through Freeman's Tavern door. 

In those old times all men drank some, — 
The youngster took New England rum, 

And I, old Apple Jack; 
And then a foolish yarn he told, v 



136 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



The driving snow came trooping past, 
Charging before the whistling blast 

With movements fast or slow, 
Just as the noise was loud or light, 
And all the day, and half the night, 
The storm raged on with wrathful might 

And many a tent laid low; 
Then as we billetted our men 

At distances away, 
We did not call our roll again 

Till Surgeon's call next day. 

Two of our men did not appear. 
The rustic youth from Belvidere, — 

The lout from Big Muckshaw, — 
I took two good men on a scout. 
Past Widow Ford's we sought them out, 
And soon one comrade gave a shout. — 

A dreadful sight he saw; — 
On a bleak spot, by winds blown bare, 

The young recruit lay dead; 
A hole between his eyes and hail - , 

A bullet in his head." 



The veteran ceased, and Lighting his pipe, 
He said it was long since apples were ripe. 
Still from his old lips our cider bed wipe 

To the honor of Washington's name; 
And some other night he'd certainly tell 
Of tragic events thai later befell, 
And how Bonnel Moody was swung like a bell. 

In the wind, on a gibbet of shame. 



4 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 137 



^e Su^y Exploit. 



'P lie trumpets rang, the bugles sang, ) 

The martial orders sounded, c 

The eager force of dashing horse 

In ardent concert bounded; ) 

Hussar, Dragoon, and Cuirassier, { 

Gay Lancer, and stout Cannoneer, J 

With helmet, breastplate, sword and spear 

All gleaming in the sun, 
Came charging swiftly from afar ) 

With all the speed of awful war, \ 

While sod and sapling felt the jar 

Spreading as ripples run; 
As on they swept, before them crept 

The grass in agitation, 
Behind them lay a well-worn way 

Of rut and indentation. 

From country down, from castled town, 
From thronged and thriving city. 

The grave and gray, the young and gay, 
The plain, the proud, the pretty, 

In robes of brilliant tints arrayed 

Came trooping to the grand parade, 
\ To see the mighty cavalcade 

) Of Austrian s and Huns; 

The crowds that fringed the soldiers' place 

Proclaimed — in loveliness and grace 

The daughters of the Hapsburg race 
Well worthy of the sons; 

'Twere hard to say which won the day 
\ The mob with swords and lances, 

I Or that whose arms were matrons' charms 

| And maidens' flashing glances. 



138 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



As on they came, like prairie flame 

Magnificently nearing, 
Their flanks upbore a crackling roar 

Of patriotic cheering; 
But sudden silence filled the scene 
As out upon the empty green 
A wilful little child was seen 

In merry glee to run, 
The multitude could only cower 
A point of time that seemed an hour, 
And then a shout of mighty power 

Went up toward the sun. 
Those fierce Hussars of many wars 

Were ne'er so warmly greeted, 
Straight on they tore — yet one man bore 

That child before him seated. 



As eagles swoop, so train and troop 
All in their proper places, 

Dashed past as though a foreign foe 
Arose before their faces, 

All gallantly they sped away 

Until the mighty army lay 

Aligned in glittering array 
Beyond the trampled field; 

Then from afar that soldier came, 

His modest countenance aflame, 

Seeking to find the thankful dame 
His prattling prize to yield: 

The mother's tears, the people's cheers 
His shrinking spirit harrassed, 

The bashful wight — in field or fight- 
Was never so embarrassed. 



£ 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 139 



With moistened cheek he turned to seek 
\ His squadron's safe seclusion, 

]> While manhood's praise and beauty's gaze 

\ Redoubled his confusion, 

And proud his prancing charger stood 
Before the pearl of womanhood, 
Where — glad to greet a man so good — 

His Empress gave him thanks ; 
But Ah ! How swelled the soldier's breast 
As riding out from all the rest 
His Kaiser fastened on his vest — 

Before the Army's ranks — 
The cross well-known, the Kaiser's own, 

Of gold with fringed border, 
And he who bore that jewel wore 

Maria's knightly order. 




140 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Vail ]M°tiler'£ Sallow ^'ei{. 

Y^oung Walter's vessel seemed to skim, 
-*- Swift as its master's will, 
Through sombre night that dark and grim 

Enwrapped the wooded hill ; 
And as he neared the rocky shore 
The tempest through the forest tore 
And whirled along with hiss and roar 

Across the turbid bay ; 
Scarce touched the keel upon the sand 
Before the youth sprang to the land 
And sped away at love's command 

The hill-side to essay; 
No fear had he of sound or sight 

Or spell that witch might weave. 
Nor dread of goblin, ghost or sprite 

Upon that Hallow Eve. 

The Hessian sentry paced his post. 

Close to the ancient trees. 
And heard the Devil drill his host 

Amid the blust'ring breeze; 
Anon he saw a monstrous thing 
Perched on a bough, prepared to spring, 
Waving the while one mammoth wing, 
[ And scratching like a cat; 

The soldier thought he'd lose his wits, 
< His teeth seemed chattering to bits, 

j And fearing lest he'd fall in fits 

He tumbled over flat. 
And fell to praying loud and fast 

With features covered o'er 
Although full twenty years had passed 

Since he had prayed before. 



& 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 141 



Old Gratz Tan Mouler, smoking, sat 

Before a crackling fire, 
And puffed, from underneath his hat. 

As though he'd never tire ; 
And as the embers met his gaze 
He saw, amid the glowing haze, 
A vision of his youthful days, 

Katrinka, — dead and gone; — 
Softly the old man breathed her name, — 
"Katrinka," — then from out the flame 
A graceful figure gently came, 

As daylight comes from dawn ; 
Softly she kissed her husband's cheek 

Just as in days of yore, — 
He sprang to clasp her hand and speak, 

But Ah ! She was no more. 

Bang! Went a musket by the road, — 

Bang! Went one at the back, — 
And all the troops were bid to " Load, 

And meet a night attack," 
Then there was running here and there 
As wedding-guests fled everywhere, 
And many a kiss upon the stair 

Was borrowed in the fright ; 
The soldiers formed and marched around; 
At length the sentinel they found 
Half dead with fear upon the ground 

And bore him to the light; 
Revived at last — he could but say — 

Explaining what he'd done, — 
"Two grinning goblins passed his way — 

Therefore he fired his srun." 



142 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



« 



Ere he recounted how he'd fought, — 

A most unequal fight, — 
The rearward sentinel they brought 

Praying with frantic might; — 
Then down the stairs like one distraught, 
Her face with consternation fraught, 
A breathless maid her master sought, 

And this new terror told, 
How Ililey Ann, old Gratz's pride, 
The British Captain's chosen bride, 
Was swept away with one fell stride 

By wizard black and bold;— 
While yet she spake, a rattling gust 

Laden with threat nings dire, 
Landed a cloud of bricks and dust 

Plump in the roaring fire. 

The maidens screamed, the matrons cried, 

And portly men turned pale, 
Some lads to raise rude laughter tried 

But tried without avail, 
The bravest there seemed most dismayed, 
The soldiers in strong ranks arrayed 
Slipped softly off, as though afraid 

New demons to arouse; 
Each guest with speed his safety gained. 
Each servant to remain disdained, 
And soon no living thing remained 

In that enchanted house 
Save Gratz, who sat and smoked, they said. 

Like some enormous gnome, 
And muttered oft, with shaking head, 

" The mother took her home." 



HOMESPUN VERSES, 



143 



While imps and bogeys Lad their way 

About Van Mouler's farm 
Walter was sailing o'er the bay 

Beyond the reach of harm, 
Nor reck'd he how the storm might roar 
That swept him toward the Western shore, 
Because his flying vessel bore 

A precious female freight ; — 
No craft e'er made so swift a run, 
And long before the day begun 
Old Parson Caldwell joined in one 

Young Walter and his mate ; 
And well 'twas known throughout the land, 

And all along the shore, 
That wedlock bound by Caldwell's hand 

Was tied forever more. 



Next afternoon old Gratz sat still 

In his accustomed seat, 
When presently upon his sill 

He heard approaching feet, 
And in the briefest moment more 
Right quickly through the inner door 
A couple came and stood before 

The farmer in his chair, 
With tearful speed the girl began, — 
"Father, forgive your Hiley Ann, — 
This is my own, my wedded man, 

Let us your labor's share ; " — 
The old man raised his trembling hands 

Towards Heaven's highest dome, 
"My girl," — he said, — "up yonder stands,' 

" The mother took her home." 



144 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



8 I<eger|d of j?edor|d f{ivei\ 

r^ old blew the blasts from Ramapo 
^ Along the sombre river, 
The hill sides gleamed with frozen snow, 
The bare trees faced the moon's pale glow 

Without a leaf to quiver; 
All silent slept the Bel I lenient 
As o'er the seene swift cloudlets went 

With shades that seemed to shiver. 
While towering to the firmament 
The white church-steeple grandly lent 

A charm to Second River. 



High in thai spire a sentry stood, 

A vengeful vision keeping, 
Over the flowing ice fringed flood — 
Straight to a mansion near a wood 

Hi:' watchful vision sweeping. 
He saw the Hessian Guardsmen there 
And chafed within his airy lair 

Like some fierce bear in cover; 
But laughed upon the startled ail- 
To see a maiden young and fair 

Waiting to wed her lover. 



The shadow of the spire crept round, 

The secret .sentry hiding, 
The whistling breezes ceased to sound, 
In icy silence most profound 

All nature was abiding; 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 145 



The tinkle of a distant bell 

Whose jingle nearer seemed to swell ( 

Upon the ear came gliding, \ 

And soon the watchers' vision fell 
Upon a man they both knew well S 

Toward that mansion riding. 



His sledge soon passed the open gate 

And up the lane went hieing, 
The eager bride-groom sprang elate 
To greet his coy and modest mate 

Her smiling visage spying, 
As to the topmost step he sprang 
From that old spire a musket rang 

That sent the echoes flying, — 
Swift on its course the bullet sang, 
A sudden blow, — an awful pang, — 

John Tory lay a dying. 



The Hessians straightway formed a line 

And marched about for hours, 
Their leader died without a sign 
As over stoop and trellised vine 

His lifeblood ran in showers, 
The poor bride saw that cruel shot, 
And staggered from the bloody spot 

Bereft of mental powers ; — 
Though men this story have forgot, 
Yet plants which grow upon that spot 

Bear only ruddy flowers. 



146 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Colore Cktlicdrkl. 



T n old Cologne a famous Bishop dwelt 

Who felt the Church's worth and made it felt, 
Pattern for peasant, potentate and priest, 
He grew in sanctity as wealth increased; 
His mission thrived beneath his careful hand, 
And soon his See ranked any in the land, 
Save for one truthful taunt oft at him thrown 
That God had no Cathedral in Cologne; 
Therefore he vowed to hide that crying shame 

'Neath cross-tipped spires 'twould stand till Time 
grew hoary, 
So that men seeing them would speak his name. 

And say, — "That great man built them to (rod's glory. 
And so he sent a message through the earth. 

To lonely monks and crowded congregations, 



That all who chose, ignoring rank or birth, 
Should send him diagrams and elevations. 

In old Cologne there lived an Architect, 
In toil severe, in action circumspect, 
True to the Church, ennobled by the State. 
Praised by the poor and honored by the great ; 
But life's good things to him seemed worthless dross, 
And moments lost from work — eternal loss; 
Long ere he saw a structure rise complete 
Ambition spurred him to a greater feat, 
Ever aspiring to designs sublime, 

Hoping at last by some supreme endeavor 
To mark his name upon the walls of Time 

Among the noble names that live forever. 
Once that man heard his Bishop's noble scheme 

The project filled his mind asleep or waking, 
For though his brain with drawings seemed to teem 

Yet none of them were worthy of the making. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



One sultry day this austere architect— 
With weary brain and languid intellect — 
Trudged past the limits of the od'rous town 
And in an ancient greenwood sate him down ; — 
From a cool spot he saw the sun's hot glare, — 
Noted the trembling of the glowing air, — 
Breathed the perfume that through the woodland 

crept, — 
And leaned against an oaken tree and slept: 
But soon awoke, roused by a gath'ring storm 

That sent a tremor through his every member, — 
Before him stood a man whose stately form 

He'd seen before but yet could scarce remember, 
Malicious meaning lingered in his smile 

Like one who loved in villainy to revel, 
His crafty tongue was fed on flowing guile 

In all his ways he seemed the very Devil. 

The stranger smilingly displayed a plan, 

The like had ne'er been seen by mortal man, 

The architect sprang up to clasp it fast, 

But only caught a leaf borne on the blast, 

'Twas hidden by its owner in a trice, 

Who, mocking, said, "that parchment had its price, 

Full well he knew that his design alone 

Foreshadowed the Cathedral of Cologne; " — 

The citizen at once produced his store 

Of gold and silver coins that clinked and jingled 
Which scarcely touched the stranger's palm before 

Like water to the ground they ran and mingled 
With dust and leaves, and quickly sank away 

As though the earth were thirsty for such drink- 
ing;— 
Ah! Quoth the Master, " Lucifer, good day, 

For that grand plan I'll face you without shrink- 
ing." 



(™ 148 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



And then they bought and sold the precious scroll, 
And so they bought and sold a precious soul, 
Satan produced the bond already sealed, 
In blood they signed it while the thunder pealed. 
And when the architect once grasped the plan 
He clasped it to his breast and homeward ran, 
While Satan's features wore — in beauty fell — 
( The wicked smile that mother Eve knew well, — 

) In course of time, when came the final night, 

\ And all the plans were posted in position, 

) The gathered multitude saw with delight 

( Thai one arose beyond all competition; 

; The Bishop said with gladness in Ins eyes, — 

j "Of all designs,— by laymen or by gownsman,— 

*> It gave him pleasure to award the prize 

To that presented by his fellow-townsman." 



' All UIU V UlUgUC <l U.CO.TJ l<l.\ tVOa lillll 

' a ,.,i ,..,,. i i i,» i.:.. ,.,...>,,,. ,v,. u: ,..,i„ 



In old Cologne a heavy tax was laid 

And each man brought his money or his spade. 

For every one was bound, from boor to peer, 

One man to furnish forty days a year; 

Bui many seasons passed their weary round 

Before the building peeped above the ground. 

And very slowly as the years passed by 

The grand Cathedral clambered toward the sky; 

Meanwhile the architect grew old apace, 

Wrinkled and bent, decrepit, lame and hoary. 
Until at last, urged by his desp'rate ease, 

lie told the portly Bishop all his story; 
That prelate had a monk from isles afar 

Who'd made hell fire blast stones for the mechanic, 
Right well he'd calculate a lucky star, 

Exorcise witchery, or wiles Satanic. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 149 ^H 



For Friar John the Bishop straightway sent, 
Good Friar John before his Bishop went, 
Glad to defraud old Satan of his price, 
In whispers gave the Master this advice, — 
' ' Of consecrated wafers take a store, 
Go meet the Tempter where ye met before. 
Procure the bond its meaning to descry, 
Clap wafers in your mouth and him defy. " 
The thankful builder tremblingly obeyed 

And quickly sought the leafy wood's seclusion, 
While Friar John in a convenient shade 

Waited to note the baffled Fiend's confusion; 
The Friar's scheme was carried out full well, 

And ended in the enemy's disaster, 
His grasping hands o'ertook his bond— but fell 

Empty before the presence of his Master. 

Ah! Then the spirit of the witness quailed 
To see the dreadful demon stand unvailed, 
With burning breath upon the sulphurous air 
That singed his grizzled beard and scorched his hair; 
He heard — while lightnings crackled through the 

dell — 
' ' For this defeat some one shall writhe in Hell, 
The day your priests shall consecrate that shrine 
The first to pass its threshold shall be mine; " — 
What awful oaths the baffled demon swore 

The architect ne'er dared to tell to mortals; 
At last with one infernal final roar 

He winged his way to Tophet's yawning portals ; 
While howling tempests tore the very ground 

The sturdy oak in twain was quickly riven, 
And as its top went crashing to the ground 

Poor Friar John was billeted for Heaven. 



150 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



That night a furious storm raged far and wide, 
And burning garners lit the country side ; 
Incessant flashes o'er the highlands played, 
Revealing turbid gulfs in every glade; 
Tempests and torrents seemed in strife to vie, 
While thunderbolts blazed o'er the dismal sky. 
And many an old wife said with shaking head 
" Old Nick is tumbling ou his brimstone bed." — 
'Mid wind and rain and many wild alarms 

The poor old man in safety reached his dwelling, 
The Bishop met him there with open arms, 

And burned the bond 'mid Pandemonium's yelling: 
But all the Master's earthly strength was spent, 

To have it so, indeed, he felt contented, 
And lingering on a month or so he went 

To Glory, universally lamented. 



As on their way the circling seasons rolled 
The Bishop owned he too was growing old, 
And in his heart he knew he soon would ken 
The lonesome journey traveled by all men; 
The sanctuary which his youth began 
Must erst be finished by sonic other man, 
But he determined, as he sadly sighed, 
To consecrate the building ere he died; 
Therefore he fixed upon a certain day, 

And sent his monks abroad with holy orders, 
To call his faithful flock to come away 

From all parts of his diocesan borders 
And help their Father bless the house of stone 

By gathering with him in a might}' meeting, 
And in the proud Cathedral of Cologne 

Give Heaven and their Mother Church a greeting. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 151 ^^ 



There was a holiday in old Cologne, ( 

Each burly Burgher made the day his own, ) 
While pious people sought the Holy Shrine 

By road and path and on the river Rhine ; ^ 

Banners and branches waved o'er roofs and doors s 

Of silent homesteads and deserted stores, ) 

And strangers saw — of all the gay array — s 

The open taverns made the most display; ) 
From dewy morn till sultry noontide's glare ' S 

A throng about the sacred structure waited, ) 
But none came forward brave enough to dare 

To pass the door where Satan's self awaited ; ) 
The prelate was too meek his priests to lead, 

And they too mild to head their humble masters, ) 

In turn the simple people felt indeed \ 

Too modest thus to go before their pastors. ) 



The soldiers too who'd fought with fiends abroad, 

Would ne'er be first within the House of God, 

But they proposed to let the Tempter chew 

Some cursed heretic or foreign Jew ; 

But such a course — the monks said — would be vain, 

And surely desecrate the sacred fane ; — 

At last a huntress came, and on her back 

She bore a burden in a goat-skin sack, 

Straight to the door she strode and there let fiy 

A savage wolf that bounded through the portals, 
Then from within rang out a piercing cry 

That blanched the faces of the list'ning mortals, 
And when a brave man peered in for a sign 

This only sight his wond'ring vision greeted, 
Blackened upon the boarded roof the line, — 
"This edifice shall never be completed." 



152 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



m 



Though changeful centuries have passed away, 
On the Cathedral builders work to day, 
And those who thought — forever in Cologne — 
Their monument should be that pile of stone, 
Bishop and builder share man's common lot, 
Their very names were long ago forgot ; 
Indeed, 'tis said by critics from abroad 
That old Cologne has e'en forgotten God; 
Through all the startling and promiscuous range 

Of changes in which progress loves to revel. 
In this one thing at least there is no change, 

Cologne retains relations with the Devil; 
The diabolic ambuscades that line 

The path to worship make the faithful falter. 
And pilgrims find,— who piously incline — 

Perdition's stenches almost storm the altar. 



r-*-~lfZJi ={?/tns-r-» 




4 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 153 



¥l\e I<egei|d of Oiif I(kdy of 
$\o£ Smkdotitf. 

J n Quercy stands a craggy height 

Above a darksome vale, 
The breeze that o'er the stream blows light 

Up there becomes a gale ; 
"When twilight hides the lowly glen, 

And day takes sudden flight, 
Those crags respond a bright Amen 

To sunset's warm Good Night. 



When Zaccheus came from lands afar 

Across the golden sea, 
Led by a little twinkling star 

Which none but he could see, 
He climbed that rocky ridge to rest — 

And saw his star no more — 
Therefore the stony ground he blest 

And called it Amadour. 



< The holy hermit there abode 

While years went whistling by, 
Till at the Master's call he rode 

The chariot of the sky; 
His brethren there an altar raised 
) Our Lady to adore, 

And Zaccheus' name this day is praised 
') Upon Hoc Amadour. 



Our Lady of Roc Amadour 

The sailor's friend is she, 
Full oft a drowning tar she bore 

From out the roaring sea ; 
If but they prayed her help to gain 

She lent a helping hand, — 
None ever sought her aid in vain 

Who safely reached the land. 



Those who were saved by her good hap 

Made haste her shrine to greet, 
And poured their gold upon her lap. 

Their silver at her feet ; 
The pious friars used it well 

To give God's message wing, 
The red coin went to buy a bell, 

The white to make it ring. 



When e'er a wight from depths profound 

Is rescued by her hand 
The bell sends forth a merry sound 
I 1 That echoes o'er the land; 

1 1 And every time a storm sweeps o'er 

Yon rough and rocky height, 
The bell upon Roc Amadour 
Rings out upon the night. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 155 



¥l|e legend of tl\e Gfoodwii) $ki)d$. 



rubicund Abbot from over the sea 
= *"" m " Sought a home for bis order down Tenterden way, 

And he gloatingly smiled on the picturesque lea 
Of the broad Goodwin meads spreading far far away 

To the sturdy stone wall that withstood the rough sea. 

To William the Norman he speedily went 

With the haste of a man who had business to do, 

Quoth he, — "Puissant Liege, since the church to thee lent 
The aid of the cross against foes not a few 

To thy gratitude now I address my lament." 

" The Saxon Earl Goodwin thy foeman hath been, 
Heaven's favor hath given him into thy hand, — 

Hast thou e'er met a traitor of haughtier mien? — 
Thou art Lord of his person, his purse and his land, 

Give the last to the Abbot of Saint Augustine " 

The Abbot returned full of prelatic pride, 
The Lord of the Fee for ten miles by the sea, 

And the heart-broken Earl pined away till he died;— 

"The sea shall reclaim what they've stolen from me," 

He breathed, as his spirit went out with the tide 

Then they managed the place in the clerical way, 

Squeezing more from the land than good farming allows, 

For they sold the new grass and retained the old hay, 
And they sold the young heifers and kept the old cows, 

And brought naught to the glebe, but kept sending away. 



156 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



And they strove with a zeal that seemed never to tire 
To erect in a twelvemonth a church for all time, 

Prior, Friar and choir every day went up higher 
With the church and the steeple where bells were 
to chime 

Till a day's work would finish old Tenterden spire. 

Ere the priest slept that night from without came a 
call 
From a Saxon who shouted, — as often before. — 
"Father, mend thy sea-wall ere a storm shall befall," 
But the prelate replied, — "Get thee gone from 
my door, 
We will build the Lord's church and let Him mend 
His wall." 

That night a storm rose and swept off the sea wall 
Like a handful of pebbles before the wild waves, 

And the Abbot and Monks in a twinkling were all 
Buried deep in the stormy sea's fathomless graves. 

Where they slumber in peace till their Master shall 

) call. 

i 
\ 

\ Ancient Tenterden spire still points to the sky 

) Near the treacherous coast where the meadows 

\ once lay, 

S Where the white billows roar when the wind rages 

( high 

\ And the Goodwin Sands stretching for ten miles 



away 



\ Clutch and hold every vessel that ventures them 



nigh. 



4 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 157 



Tl}e Jdou^e ii, tlje Ck^tle of 
]\fofn\ki|dy. 



y\j mouse lay hid in the Castle wall 
And nibbled a chunk of cheese, 
And he saw a portly prelate fall 

Plump down upon his knees, 
"Oh! Mother Mary,"— the Abbot prayed, 
" I would my vows I'd never made," 
"In death my King will low be laid 

Nor dare I speak at all; " 
Then quoth the mouse — " A mouse I'd be 
Rather than priest of Normandy." 



The mouse peeped out in the Castle yard, 

With a bit of oaten cake ; 
And he saw a knight of the Royal Guard, — 

All bitterly he spake, — 
" He's taken all my father's land, 
And robbed me of my true love's hand, 
King though he be — with this right hand 

To-night I'll strike him hard; " — 
Then quoth the mouse, — " A mouse I'd be, 
Rather than Knight of Normandy." 



158 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



^ ^ 



The mouse crept into the King's great room 

With a scrap of wheaten bread, 
And saw the Knight in the midnight gloom 

Stab the King to death in his bed, 
And all night long the bloody gore 
Dripped steadily down to the marble floor. 
And trickled under the oaken door, 

Be-drabbllng the house-maid's broom; 
Then quoth the mouse, — "A mouse I'd be, 
Bather than King of Normandy." 



The mouse ran over the kitchen floor, 

Ere the burying was done. 
And carefully before him bore 

A goodly bit of a bun; 
Then a cruel cat with a frightful frown 
Gave a mighty spring from the dresser down, 
And the mouse ran under the scullion's gown 

But his race was the sooner o'er, 
With a dying squeak the mouse quoth he, — 

"Oh! a woeful country is Normandy.'' 





HOMESPUN VERSES. 



159 



Old gong. 

r^ome gentle Phillis walk with me 
^"^ Beneath the merry greenwood tree; 
A red rose in thy kerchief fair, 
A white rose in thy nut-brown hair; 
With hands together to and fro, 
We'll sing to Cupid as we go. 
Sing troll on away lads, 

Sing troll on away, 
With tumble tow and rumble row 

Sing troll on away. 



Oh! Robin, cast the willow down 
That lies about thy old hat's crown ; 
Thy back turn to the greenwood tree, 
And throw thy coat upon the lea, 
And get thee to thy rusty plow, 
Or I'll ne'er walk with thee I trow. 

Sing troll on away lad, 
Sing troll on away, 

With birchen bough and oaken plough 
Sing troll on away. 



# 



160 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



®11 i£ Vanity. 



"YAThat is the Past? The Future whatV- 
^ * Millions have been who now are not, 
The countless blades of grass that dot 

These fields below 
But symbolize the names forgot 

Ages ago. 



Prophets and martyrs famed of old, — 
Sages and heroes wise and bold, — 
Moulder with men of common mould 

Beneath our feet, 
Their dust by fitful breezes doled 

About the street. 



Ambition ever was the same; 
Men strove to make a noted name, 
And win the wreaths of fleeting fame 

By wealth or war, 
And passed away while others came 

More famous far. 

\ Vast generations fled from sight. 

As evanescent as the light 
\ Of twinkles on a frosty night 

Starry and still, 
K A brilliant moment flashing bright 

) Where all is chill. 



d 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 161 ™'s 



Each generation treads the stage 
Thinking its own poor blotted page 
The record of the Golden Age 

In History's books, 
So grand as surely to engage 

Creations looks. 



Our earthly grandeur fades as fast 
As rainbows o'er the Heavens cast, 
Whose glory soon is overpast 

And leaves no mark, 
So all the glories of the past 

Scarce leave a spark. 



When did God make the starry sky? — 
When did light first through chaos fly?- 
When did mankind first heave a sigh? 

Or learn to sin? 
When did life first lie down to die?" 

Or grief begin ? 



What does the candle in the cot? — 
The spark by sledge and anvil shot? 
Know of the sun, that brilliant spot 

Set in the sky? 
Or of the moon and stars that dot 

The vault on high? 



162 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



What does the rill, where eagles soar, 
Know of the ocean's rocky shore? 
The mountain fountain bubbles o'er 

In sparkling rains; 
The drops speed to the billows roar, — 

The spring remains. 

When did our race in sexes go?— 
When into tribes and colors grow f — 
When did they learn to plow and sow, 

Or make a fire? 
Or cook, or write, speak, sing, read, know 

Love or desire? 

And if so little now we know 
Of aught that happened long ago, 
Though fraught with all the weal and woe 

Of all our race; 
How can our peering vision show 

The future's face? 




HOMESPUN VERSES. 163 



Iii\Q-\oi 4 tklity ar\d I<ove. 



j 

< 

'T^be sun, great source of light and heat, 
The clover leaf beneath our feet. 
_) The tree, the brook, the breaker, 

Planets, and tides, frost, air, and rain, 
Fruits, flowers, seasons, — all maintain 
There is a Mighty Maker. 

The strange anatomy of man, 

The complex wonders of the plan ( 

That forms the structure mortal, ) 

The brain that all his motions leads, — 
His very weaknesses and needs { 

Proclaim his soul immortal. 

When Man by perfect breath endued 

Sprang forth in Eden's solitude, \ 

Divine in form and feature, ) 

Love was the prompter of the mind, 
) Love was the only law to bind 

The Maker and the creature. 

How beautiful this life appears 
When every passing year endears 

A couple to each other, 
As beauty fails affection grows, 
Till death at last most clearly shows 

This life precedes another. 

And when this little life is o'er, 
And grief and pain shall be no more, 

And death depart forever, 
Then Faith in sight shall gladly end, 
Hope to fruition sweet ascend, 

And Love continue ever. 



'V 1fi4. mvpsprx vf/rsfk 



Sq Old >lariV Reverie. 



T feel like one who sadly saunters through 

-*- The crowded halls of his ancestral home, 

While passing throngs, with faces strange and 

new, 

Jostle and jar when e'er his fancies roam 

Among the memories of long ago. 

Nor give him room or rest to think alone. 
But thrust him forth where winter whirlwinds 
blow, 
And naught remains to him but outer stone. 

Like some rare manuscript of ancient lore 

I seek a corner underneath the dtisl : 
The eyes that gladly sought me are no more. 

The hand that wrote upon my heart is dust ; 
I wonder as I ponder, like old Job, 

Whether a man who dies shall live again. 
I would I could lay hold upon the robe 

Of Him who was the counsellor of men. 

A grain of wheat sown in the uptorn ground 

And hidden deep beneath a sheet of snow 
Springs in bright beauty when the birds' notes 
sound, 
And droops in fatness 'mid the summer's 
glow ; 
Could one who never saw a spear of wheal 
Fortell the future of that little grain 7— 
Conceive the plant that bends the breeze to 
greet ! — 
Or guess the rich return 'twill yield again? 



^ 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 165 



The limpid water of the mountain rill 

Laughs as it leaps along its downward course 
And in some dreary marsh noisome and still 

Reflects the shadow of its distant source, 
But when the sunshine warms the dark morass 

The pure mist rises from its loathsome bed, 
And soars to realms where lightning flashes 
pass, 

And rainbows light the planets overhead. 

All living things grow upward toward the sky, 
All lifeless things fall downward to the 
ground ; 
All earthly flame shoots up toward light on 
high, 
While heavenly light girds myriad worlds 
around, 
Man makes a breathless statue of a stone, — 

A lifeless engine from a mass of ore, — 
God made from dust a likeness of His own, 
And with a breath made man live evermore. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



9 



Be > r ot Weafy. 

|)h! weary one, do not forbear, 
^ Nor fail, nor falter, nor forget 
That if each toiler does his share 

Men will be equal yet; 
In our broad land, forevermore 

Man's ownership of man is past, 
And Reason soon must triumph o'er 

The tyranny of Caste. 

'Tis true we seem in one short life 

To gain so very little space, 
While struggling in the constant strife 

To elevate our race; 
Remember, centuries but make 

Successive classes in a school 
Since first the loving Master spake 

The glorious Golden Rule. 

This firm world moves, although we see 

Solidity beneath our feet, 
And future ages still must he 

Made up Of moments Meet ; 
Then let us labor while we're here, 

And faithfully do what we can 
To bring about, in love sincere, 

The Brotherhood of Man. 

Then shall our banner bravely Moat 

Above a country truly free, 
And all the universe shall note 

How kindly we agree; 
So long as lightning Hashes high, 

Or fleecy cloudlets sail along, 
Or twinkling stars adorn the sky, 

Our Nation shall be strong. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 167 



^Iki)kii|d w&£ JVTade to $ing ai\d 
$rqile. 

MP lie lonely forest aisles resound 

With solemn strains and tones profound 

Played by the rustling breeze, 
The little brook that ripples nigh 
Sings through the night a lullaby 

To all the nodding trees. 

The music of the skaters' feet 
Rings gaily to the far retreat 

Of startled deer or mink, 
And frosty North winds whistling go 
Among the brittle reeds that grow 

Beside the sedgy brink. 

The crested billows, foaming, merge 
In frothy swells of bubbling surge 

That hum along the shore ; — 
"When tempests in the ship's shrouds ring 
The sailors think of those who sing 

Upon the upper shore. 

The thunder shaking earth and sky, — 
The cataracts that with it vie — 

The fountain in the dell, — 
The winter blast— the zephyrs sigh — 
All join in Nature's symphony, 

Why not mankind as well? 



8 



168 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



And then the birds, the happy birds 
Whose songs seem almost set to words 

Evolved from thankful hearts, 
Although they neither speak nor smile,— 
Nor reasoning powers their wits beguile, 

They simply sing their parts. 



The waving wheat, the rustling corn, — 
The dewy grass at early morn, — 

The orchard trees in bloom, 
The brilliant woods in Autumn days, — 
The hill-tops veiled by purple haze, — 

The vines upon a tomb. — 



The stars upon a frosty night.— 
The country-side with snow bedight, 

The ice-encrusted lake. 
The sun arising from the deep. — 
The mountain cascade's gleaming steep. 

The spring within the brake. — 



The earth's recurring robe of green. 
The flowers that blossom all unseen 

Or isolated grow; 
To me this simple legend tell — 
Mankind was made to smile as well 

As grass was made to grow. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 169 



Vl|e f)igr\ity of I<kW. 

Lines suggested by the Newark Industrial Exhibition. 

"YA7"ould you see hard work with success en- 

* ^ crowned? 
With a thoughtful eye calmly look around; 
Here, the busy brain and the horny hand 
Bid their wondrous wares in a pageant stand, 
And the maker's thoughts higher still aspire 
When the women smile and the men admire — 
Work is ne'er too mean to be deftly done, — 
'Tis a small reward that is lightly won. 

In the blackest muck snowy lillies bloom, 
And the sunrise springs from the darkest gloom ; 
In the grimy coal lurks the power of steam, 
In the shapeless stone sleeps the sculptors dream, 
From the dusty loom fairest fabrics come, 
Fairy fancies flit through the workshop's hum, 
In the plater's bath silv'ry sheen 's begot, 
And the picture's gloss in the varnish pot. 

Labor loves its work when it works for love, 
From the Tanner's vat comes the bridal glove; 
From the furnace flame comes the shining steel, 
And the gleaming gold from the rouging wheel; 
In the throes of toil perfect art is wrought, 
Through the mire of ink flash the gems of thought. 
Breath depends on bread formed of dust and leaven; 
In the mint of Earth saints are coined for Heaven. 



From the dust of earth God made humankind, 
With the dust of earth Jesus cured the blind; 
From the blended dust of the earthly mine 
Men make magic work that's almost divine. 
Man, in doing work finds his true delight, 
Labor speeds the day— toil brings rest at night; 
When the world was formed out of darkness bleak 
Great Jehovah wrought one eventful week. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 171 



^efledtioi^. 



dewdrop trembling on a blade of grass, 
A bubble floating on a foaming brook; 
Frail though they be, and quick from sight to pass 

If but by lightest whisper softly shook, 
Will yet display to every passing glance 

As true a picture of the sun and sky 
As any mighty ocean's vast expanse 

Can mirror when the winds in slumber lie. 

The zigzag torrent of a plunging stream 

That leaps and races down the mountain-side — 
Whose sparkles a bespangled ribbon seem, 

Binding the monarch to his lakelet bride — 
Will glisten in the sun's effulgent ray 

A wond'rous distance o'er the dusty plain, 
While the deep lake 'round which the brooklets play 

But sends the red sun's blushes back again. 

The frozen surface of a shallow hole 

Formed by converging ruts beside the way — 
Though evanescent as a careless dole 

That in the nearest tavern melts away — 
Will reproduce the shining starry host, 

Bright with the beauty of the icy night, 
With all the truth that lake or bay can boast 

When bound by wintry bonds of brazen might. 

The feeble glimmer of a candle-light, 

Backed by a focal mirror's polished face, 
Will reach the weary seaman's gladden'd sight, 
While burning buildings' glare would die in space; 
j So one small act of kindness gently done — 

) Remembered only by the soul it cheers — 

\ Catches the glow of the celestial sun, 

) And lights the crowding ranks of countless years. 



172 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



8lk£ ! 8la£ ! 

J ong have we boasted that in our fair laud 
- L \ Both high and lowly had an equal voice, 
The poor man's son might reach supreme command 

And rule the Nation by the people's choice. 
Full well we've seen our noble vaunt proved true. 

The humble toiler from the wooded Weal 
Came up to guide our young Republic through 

The cruel war that put her to the test ; 
And since, with naught but hope and mother's love, 

An orphan boy set out the world to face. 
And gained that selfsame goal, so far above 

The poor beginning of his upward race. 
Of all the men who ever filled that chair 

These two had been in childhood most distrest ; 
Therefore were fit exemplars to compare 

The workings of our system with the rest ; 
Both men as presidents were wise and good, 

Faithful and honest, anxious to do right; 
High in the country's love they likewise stood 

As model types, with fame and virtue bright. 
Hut Oh! with what regret and bitter grief, 

And tierce anathemas, that yet are vain, 
And Borrow for disgrace beyond relief. 

We own that those two men were basely slain. 
For Lincoln's death we murmured some excuse. 

'Twas but the last throe of our civil strife, 
And only lunacy could e'er induce 

His slayer thus to end his noble life — 
Such were the idle babblings spoken then 




HOMESPUN VERSES. 
/ 



173 



To break the force of that tremendous blow; 
And we were all so sure that ne'er again 

Would any President be thus laid low, 
But now that Garfield has been cooty killed 

By a vile creature formed in human shape, 
"With helpless wrath our peaceful homes are filled 

And each man wonders who can now escape ; 
If thus our sovereignty can be assailed 

Our govermental fabric is but glass; 
What wonder then that all the Union quailed, 

And at his death but cried, 'Alas! Alas! " 




174 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



In all time of our Tribulation; In all ttme 
of our Prosperity ; In the hour of Death, 
and in the day of judgment,— good lord, 
deliver us. 

"YAT hen all our earthly hopes go down 

^ * In Trouble's tumbling sea; — 
And fell disgrace, with awful frown 

Makes friends and fellows flee; — 
Though Sorrow share our scanty fare 

Beside a cold hearthstone; — 
With tearful faith we seek in prayer 

Our Father, on His Throne. 

When every enterprise succeeds, 

And Fortune favors thrift; — 
When blessings follow all our deeds 

And Gratitude is swift, — 
Our schemes are made and plans well laid 

Too long for Life's short span;— 
'Tis then we need our Saviour's aid 

For He was once a man. 



When at the last cur journey ends 

Upon that sombre shore, 
Whence every human footstep tends, 

And Man returns no more; 
O'er deeps unknown each must alone 

Launch forth in dark'ning Night. 
Oh! Holy Spirit, Thee we own 

To lead us to the Light. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



175 



And in that final, solemn day, 

When all mankind shall stand, 
Waiting the word to pass away, 

On one or other hand; 
All trembling we a group shall be 

Amid the mighty horde ; 
Great Trinity in Unity, 

Deliver us, Good Lord. 




W 17. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Sow tl\ey $ki<ved tl^e fo-fiowi) ix> 
Ould 0khvky. 

Tn ould Bally-na-more, just beyant the Town Hall, 
There wan Darby Dunmore kept the Hole in-the- 

Wall; 
'Tvvas the height of the Fair, whin the b'ys wor all 

flush, 
Afther sellin' their pigs, or their calves, or ould 

cush, 
An' the naggins o' whiskey wor makin' the rounds- 
Out shpakes ould Belmullet, "I raysaved twinty 

pounds;" 
Pat Costello, the Buck, says, "That's more nor 

they're worth," 
,' That's not throe," shouts MacAnthrim, a b'y from 

the North. 



" Shpake aisy, melad,'' Paddy cries, "or, begorra, 
Yell be walkin' on crutches be this time to-morra;" 
" Ye're a murtherin' liar," bawls Mac, wid a roor, 
" An' I dar ye to put yer fut outside the door." 
"I'm yer man," says the Buck; " ^ir, be-this-an'-be- 

that," 
Thin off wint his coat, an' his waistcoat and hat. 
An' the whole houseful! rose an' lift oil conversation. 
Every wan o' thim glad to see some recreation. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Thin "Hurroo!" j^ells the Buck, an' "Come on," 

replies Mac, 
An' wid that he gev Paddy a slatherin' whack, 
An' the wild Connaught ranger wint down wid a 

groan, 
Be gud luck jist forninst a fine lump ov a sthone; 
But he lepped up agin, not a haporth the worse, 
An' he let fly the sthone wid a black Irish curse ; 
Wid the best ov intintions the bit ov rock shped 
In a straightforward CQorse for the Far-Downer's 

head. 

"Arrah,' shtand ye big robber," squails a voice from 

the door, 
But the supple North b'y had a grudge 'gin Dunmore, 
So he curtsied an' bobbed like a Mullingar lass — 
That's how he med bits o' poor Darby's Flinch glass. 
Thin a yell an' a screech rose as wan wid the crash, 
An' the misthress herself skitthered out like a flash. 
" Howly Murther," she cries, "ye vilyanous Pad, 
See me illigant windy all gon to the bad." 




" Oh! me house is torn clown by a scrimmagin' sot 
Five an' thirt}*- goold guineas all scattbered to pot, 
While forty shpalpeens stand an' iuk on aghast 
At wan durthy boxer from mane ould Belfast. 
Ye call yerselves Connaught min, yet a Far-Down 
Tatthers 'round and destroys all the windys in town, 
Troth, I mind well the time, long ago, whin ould 

Connaught 
Had sons wdio'd not run from an Ulsther thafe's 

bonnet." 



Thin Mickey Collooney gev him wan in the mug, 
An' young Tim Leenane tapped him unrther the lug; 
An' be jabers, the gethrin' was in a turnmoil, 
Whin down kem the peelers McQuinn and Fermoyle, 
An', musha, they worrent a minute too soon, 
For the life was near bet from the wandherin' gos- 
soon; 
Thin they marched me lad off wid great nise an 

uproar, 
An' smudtherin' crowds both behind an' before. 



So they tuk him at wance to Judge Larry O'Nail, 

An' the mistiness an' Darby raypated their tale, 
How this omadhaun darred a gud man out to fight, 
An' thin ducked his head be rayson o' fright 
()v a shtone in the ruction, therefore in it kem — 

pop!— 
An' that's how he bruck all the glass in the shop, 
Five- an' forty goold guineas all at wance whipped 

away, 
" Plaze yer Honor's tine worship, for justice we 

pray." 



"Was the stone fairly aimed? " "Twas, indadc. 

sir," sez nianny ; 
"Officers, sarch the bould vagabone — see if he's 

anny 
Money! " '' He has. sir, fifty guineas tin shillin', " 
"Thin this coort will give siutence agin the red 

villyun; 
An' our judgment is, in this prisoner's case, 




That for housebreakin', riot and braitch of the pace 
He be fined the amount just removed from his 

purse — 
Fifty guineas tin shillin — an' be glad its no worse. 



" Misther Clark, take the fine, an' pay Misther Dun- 
more 
The forty-five guineas to which he just swore, 
Retain five to pay fees, costs, ixpinses an' all, 
An' shtand thrate wid tin shillins at the Hole-in-the- 

Wall; 
An' if iver we catch this man in the attimpt 
To return to ould Galway he'll be found in contimpt, 
An' where is the lawyer dar take an appale 
To ralaise a Far-Down from a Connaught man's jail." 



Thin the b'ys raised a shout an' hurrooed wid great 

vilence, 
An' the crier shplit his gullet bawlin' " Ordher an' 

silence;" 
An' the coort adjourned shortly, an' the awjince 

immaygint 
Wint down to Dunmore's in a wondherful paygint; 
An' the misthress an' Darby gey the best uv gud 

cheer, 
There was whiskey galore, an' lashins o' beer; 
"Dhrink hearty," sez Darby, from the bar shmilin' 

down, 
"I med tin guineas clear on the bloody Far-Down.'' 



180 



HOMESPCX VERSES. 



YoiH ©uffyV ]tfktdli. 
/^ome up to Owney Quaighan's, Mike, 



^^ Says Duffy to McGinn, 
" His daughtber's married Turrence Orike, 

An' we're axed kindly in: 
The Tittles will be iv the best, 

An' betther still the liquor; 
An' heels an' toes will niver rest 

Till mornin' sunbeams flicker 
Across the llure. 




Three fiddles will sit on the press. 
Forbye the Dutchman's horn; — 
An' such foine irerls,— they'll make ye bless 

The day that you wor born;— 
An' whisht, now. Michael, where ye sthand, 

I'll lay a goolden wager 
Wan that bangs all will pledge her hand 
*Thw aoight to this ould stager, 
Ay! To-be-sure. 



Mike tuck the bet, but said no more 

Except a saycrit smile; 
An' soon me lads raichcd Quaighan's door 

Dhressed in the hoightb of sthyle; 

The house was full whin they arroived, 
Their welkim was most hearty, 

As time Hew by, injymcnt thrived 
At Mamie's wcddin' party, 
An' no mistake. 






HOMESPUN VERSES. 181 



M 



Betwixt two reels at wan o'clock, 

Bould Duffy bawled, "Make way." 
An' all the throng kem in a flock 

To hear what wud he say; 
Thin up he shpakes whin all was quite, 

"Me f rinds a quareous notion 
Popped slap into me head, this noight, 

Therefore there is a motion 

I'd like to make." — 

"Goon," ses wan, " Go on," says all, 

Thin up he shpakes again ; — 
" Is there a wumman in this hall 

That weighs just tin stone tin, 
In stature risin' five feet four, ) 

In age* turned two an' twinty, { 

Wan that was niver wed before, ) 

Wid teeth an' smiles in plinty, ( 

An' full iv fun." 

" Wid hair as black as black can be, 

An' eyes that selfsame hue, 

If such a wan will marry me ( 

Let her come forth to view, 

Togedther thin we'll lay our hands, I 

An' here sthands Squire Sinnott ) 

Who'll tie us fast in wedlock's bands ( 

At wanst. this very minute, ) 

Sure as a gun." ( 

The gerls wint out to talk it o'er, — 

An' titthered a gray dale 
As all o' thim returned wance more 

Save only Kate O'Nale; 

iW Mi 



J» '■■■■■ 2$ 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Ann Shea says, — " I'll go bail that all 

These gerls to you are cruel, 
But her that's comin' through the hall; " 

' ' Hurroo ! It's me own jewel 

Kathleen,'' — he cried- 

She stepped as stately as a queen, 

All hid in veils of lace, 
So thick they med a perfect screen 

Before her purty face ; 
Tom tuck a hoult iv her gloved hand 

An' kissed it wid grate feeling; 
An' to a chime played by the band 

Marched, lukkin at the ceiling. 
Bound to be tied. 

The whole concoorse formed a parade, 

Wid jokin an' ould prate; 
An' bided up their promenade 

Forninst the magisthrate; 
His Honor says, as he arose, 

" Has inimy or crony 
Anny impidimints to those 

Two inthrin mathrimony ? 
If so, say so." 

" Since none forbids, — Thomas, will you 

Take this wan for yer wife, 
An' kape that same, contint an' thrue, 

Throughout your mortial loife?" — 
Tom shouts "I will. "—"Miss your name, plaze?" — 

" Susan Melissa Ilagar! " — 
Tom whipped her veils off, in a craze, 

Begorra! 'Twas a Xagur. 
Black as a crow. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 183 



The Justice held that Tom must wed, 

Or else he'd land in jail, — 
Thin Duffy turned about his head, 

An' there stud Kate O'Nale, 
Laughin' quite comically, sure, 

On Mickey's arm continted ; 
Tom knocked* McGinn flat on the flure, 

An' ran like wan diminted 

Far from the spot. 



An' skelped away to parts unknown, 

Upon the railway thrain ; 
An' in sthrange places stops alone 

Nor cares for sport a grain ; 
To church he niver dars to go, 

Or wid young folks to mingle, 
Bekase he doesn't rightly know 

Fedther himself is single, 

Married, or phwat. 



. ( 

\ 

The people laughed until they cried, 

Poor Duffy cursed an' swore, J 

The wench declared she'd be his bride 

An' niver lave him more ; 
The whole house knew she'd but agreed 

To his own proposition, J> 

The ceremony must proceed, \ 

Herself filled aich condition ) 

Right to a dot. \ 

\ 

\ 
\ 



wW 134 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



f)e '$perier)de oh de f}ebVei\d 
Quawko jsti'oxig. 







\ 
wing dat gate wide, 'Postle Peter, 

Ring de big bell, beat de gong, 

Saints an' martyrs den will meet (lair 

Brndder, Reb'rend Quawko Strong. 

\ 
Sound dat bugle, Angel Gabriel, 

Tell de elders, loud an' long, 
"Clair out dem high scats of Ileaben, 

Here comes Reb'rend Quawko Strong " 

Turn de guard out, Gincral Michael, 

Anns presenl de line along; 
Let de band play " Conkerin' Hero," 

For de Reb'rend Quawko Strong. 

Den let Moses bring de crown, an' 

Palms an' weddin' gown along, 
Wid percession to de landin , 

Here's de Reb'rend Quawko Strong. 

Tune your harpst rings tight. King David 
Sing your good Ole Hunderd song, 

Let de seraphs dance wid cymbals 

'Roun' de Reb'rend Quawko Strong. 

) 

) Joseph, march down wid yer bredderen, 

Tribes an' banners musterin' strong — 
Speech ob welcome from ole Abram, 
Answer, Reb'rend Quawko Strong. 

' \ 






HOMESPUN VERSES. 185 



Angels, hear me yell Hosanner ! 

Hear my dulcem sperritool song ; 
Halleluyer! I'ma-comin'! 

I'm de Reb'rend Quawko Strong! 

Make dat white robe rudder spacious, 



\ An' de waist-belt 'strornery long, 



| 'Cause 'twill take some room in Glory * ,* 

{ For de Reb'rend Quawko Strong. \ 

) 

What ! No one to de landin' ? ) 

'Pears like suffin'-nudder's wrong; 

Guess I'll gib dat sleepy Peter \ 

Fits — from Reb'rend Quawko Strong. ) 

How am dis? De gates all fastened • \ 

Out ob all de shinin' frong ( 

Not a mulatter cherub eben 

Greets de Reb'rend Quawko. Strong. 

What a narrer little gateway ! 

My! dat gate am hard to move; 
" Who am dat? " says 'Postle Peter, 

From the parapet above. 
Uncle Peter, don't you know me — 

Me, a shinin' light so long? 
Why, the berry niggers call me 

Good ole Reb'rend Quawko Strong. 

Dimno me, de shoutin' preacher? 

Rog'lar hull-hog Wesleyan, too — 
Whar in de woods you been a-loafin'? 

Some ole rooster's boddered you, 
I reckon. Wy I convarted 

Hunderds o' darkies in a frong — 
Dunno me, nor yet my Masser, 

Deny Deacon Quawko Strong. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Hark to dat ar cur'us roarin' 

Far away, but a-rollin' nigher ; 
See de drefful dragon fly in'. 

Head like night, an' mouf ob fire 
'Tis de bsrry King ob Debbils, 

An' he'm rushin' right along, 
O, dear Peter, please to open 

To Classleader Quawko Strong. 

Ole Nick's comin' . I can feel it 

Gettin' warmer all about; 
O, my good, kind Kurnal Peter, 



Let me in, I'm all too stout 



To go 'long wid Major Satan 



In to dat warm climate, 'mom: 



Fire and brimstone. Hear me knockin', 
Ole Churehmember Quawko Strong. 

Dat loud noise am a-eomin' nearer — 

Drefful smell, like powder smoke, 
N udder screech. Good Ilebben help me! 

Lor' forgib dis pore ole moke. 
A Hers wuz so berry holy, 

Singin' an' prayin* extry long. 
Now de Debbil's gwine to coteh me, 

Pore oh' nigger Quawko Strong. 

Hi! dat gate swing back a little, 

Mighty squeezin' to git froo, 
Ole Apollyon howlin' louder, 

Eberyting aroun' am blue. 
Bang! de gate goes, an' Belzehub, 

Bunch of wool upon his prong. 
Goes 'long home widout de soul ob 

Mis' abul sinner, name of Strong. 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 187 



®e Defalcation ob Jo^uway Sifck 

\ 

X^ou don't see Joshuway 'bout yere? " 
-*- Humph! I'm 'clined to think you 
don't ; 
Yes, you kin wait, if you want to, 

But I callilate you won't 
Want to hang 'roun' yere in de way, 

Ez long's you hev to fur him, 
'Cause his chances ob returnin' yere 
Am mos' exceedin'ly slim. 



"What's de trouble? What's to hender? 

Well, nuffln' so berry great, 
'Cept Mister Bibb libs in brown stone 

Dese times, an' sarbs de State ; 
An' he's white folks to wait on him, 

An' tend his doors, an' so on, 
An' all on 'count ob him habin' 

Good principles to go on. 



' ' You, don't ezackly awnderstan' ? ' 

AVell, den I'll speak more plain ; 
Dat air Josh. Bibb am in de jail, 

De wurfless son ob old Cain. 
I s'pose you wonder how he come 

To git widin dat prison? 
\. De answer am dat he got drunk 

An' tuck what wasn't hizzen. 

\ 



188 HOMESPUN VERSES. ^"\ 

) 

, 

Dat friend ob your'n went out one day 

Wid a wagon-load ob stuff, 
An' neber come back yere no more, 

Till he'd been gone long enough 
To go to Chine}', nigh about ; 

An' when at last he sought me — 
A-looking like Ole Scratch hisself — 

How much d'ye spose he brought me? 

" You cannot guess? " I guess ye can't — 

One — counterfeit— half dollar! 
Hoss, wagon, harness, load — all gone! 

I allow dat beat all holler. 
Dat ebber I did hear or sic 

01) good-for-nufrm' niggers — 
An' all he'd say about it was 

" Dunno nufrin 'bout figgers. 

By Jimminey Cricks, hut I was mad! 
Why, dat peddlin' 'stahlishmcnt 

AVas wuth — jess lemme reckon up 
, Do valley oh dat 'quipment; 

j Dar's twenty dollars for de load, 

• Dat's hullsale; wagon, fifteen— 

\ No great shakes oh a wagon, sure; 

; An' harness ennyhow lirtecn. 

( An' den dat hoss— dat's wust oh all — 
! Dat's the most senussest loss, 

j He cost me forty dollars, clean, 
^ He ain't no ornery hoss, 

\ lie ain't; he'm pure-blooded stock. 
*i D'ye wonder my buzzum burns? 

^ 1 tell ye, when your friend come back 
S I didn't like them returns. 



m 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 



Well, dat ar's teen, twenty and fif 

Dat comes 'bout Arty-five, 
For de load and wagon, an' 

Harness firteen. Sakes alive! 
Dat reaches up to forty-eight ; 

An' forty more for dat hoss— 
Altogedder makes eighty-eight! 

Ain't dat a mos' drefful loss? 

Yes, sah, dat 'mounts to eighty-eight, 

Eighty-eight dollars, all told. 
My good-father's-a-libbing, oh ! 

How bad I did want to scold, 
An' sw'ar at dat wicked sinner, 

An' lick him like de nation, 
But I'm a trustee in de church, 

Wid a shinin' reputation. 

So I couldn't do nuffin' only pray 

For help to keep my hands down 
Till I could get him tucken up 

By de marshal ob de town ; 
Den I went afore my friend, de Jedge- 

Me'n him was boys togedder — 
He put Josh out ob fear ob dogs, 

An' 'tected from de wedder. 

Dat busted up dis hull concern — 

I went in litigation, 
An' s'pended pay, by reason ob 

De chief clerk's defalcation. 
An' now, ole man, ef you's a-gwine 

To lay 'roun' yere for Josh Bibb, 
Jest tote yer bed an' grub along 

And stay ez long*s you lib. 



190 




HOMESPUN VERSES. 



fVtin£ £oi,g. 



r ct us sing, before we part, 
"M. Of the happy days of yore, 
When content enriched the heart, 

Though the purse held slender store; 
Through the woods the winds would swell, 

Like the hum of wedding chimes; 
And we loved each other well, 

In the good old times. 



Girls were lovely, sweet and pure, 

As the blossoms on the trees; 
And as modest and demure 

As the plant they call hearfs-ease 
In their groups no sneers of pride 

Any honest toiler shamed; 
And the rich were not decried, 

Nor the poor defamed. 



All the young men then were true 

Full of manliness and worth, 
Zealous all their work to do, 

And adepts in harmless mirth; 
If a man were fair and square, 

Good and generous withal. 
He was welcome anywhere, 

On a par with all. 




HOMESPUN VERSES. 



191 



Ah ! 'Tis many years ago 

Since our circle was complete, 
For the best have long lain low 

Where the valley hillocks meet; 
While we mourn the loved ones gone, 

With sincere and deep distress, 
Yet we're ever closer drawn 

As our band grows less. 



In the spirit of the past 

Then clasp hands and say farewell 
And we'll pledge our love to last 

Like the sea-breeze in a shell ; — 
When our fragile caskets fall, 

We will seek celestial climes, 
And in paradise recall 

Meetings in old time?. 




192 HOMESPUN VERSES. 



!l& 



G^ood Xigl(t. 



^j_ood Night" — that blessed parting phrase 

^A Foretells an absence brief; 
Kind benisons the tone conveys, 

And guardianship from grief; 
Blest rest the tender term bespeaks. 

And vernal visions bright ; 
While love for love's expression seeks 

In lovers' last " Good Night." 



AVhen lisping prattlers list essay 

Plain language to expn 
And manage mimicry to say 

With symptoms of sue* 
And to the effort oft return 

'Mid doting friends' delight, 
Almost the first words that they learn 

Are those sweet words, "Good Night. 



When lingering lovers lothly part, 

Though parting soon to meet. 
And pause, while hasting to depart, 

Sweet sayings to repeat ; 
At last when last farewell they reach, 

They whisper, low and light, 
In tender strains of soothful speech, 

Those wistful words, "Good Night " 



HOMESPUN VERSES. 193 



When tired toilers seek sweet rest 

Their vigor to renew, 
By loving wishes warmly blest 

From hearts sincere and true, 
How grateful 'tis ere eyelids close 

And silence rules the night, 
To hear the music of repose 

In those sweet words, " Good Night. 



When placid age lies down in peace 

At life's long journey's close, 
Toils, trials, troubles, — all surcease, 

And God gives good repose ; 
How grandly, then, the saintly face 

Reflects celestial light 
Ere the weak whisper sinks apace 

In one low — last — " Good Night." 



